Venezuela in January 2026: the most important developments in politics
In January 2026, Venezuela's politics were dominated by the capture of President Nicolas Maduro by US forces in Caracas on 3 January. Donald Trump said the United States would run the country until a transition, and later declared himself "Acting President of Venezuela" in a post. Maduro was taken to New York and on 5 January pleaded not guilty to narco-terrorism and drug trafficking charges, describing his arrest as a kidnapping; his next hearing was set for March. China, Russia, France, Mexico and Cuba criticised the operation, Cuba said 32 of its citizens died, and the UN Security Council held an emergency meeting. Israel and the Swedish prime minister welcomed it.
Delcy Rodriguez was sworn in as interim president on 5 January. She dismissed the head of the presidential guard, removed Alex Saab from her cabinet, and had the military's declared support on 29 January. Trump spoke with her by phone on 14 January, and the CIA director met her in Caracas on 16 January. A US delegation arrived to explore restoring ties, a US chargé d'affaires reached Caracas on 31 January, and the US began first steps toward reopening its embassy. Trump said the US would oversee Venezuela for years and that no elections were planned in the coming days. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado met Trump at the White House on 15 January and gave him her Nobel Peace Prize medal; the Nobel Foundation said the prize cannot be passed on. A US senator warned on 28 January that force was not ruled out.
Venezuela released political prisoners from 8 January, including Italians, Americans and other foreign nationals. The government announced 116 releases, rights groups gave lower figures, and by 14 January the top lawmaker put the total above 400. On 30 and 31 January Rodriguez announced an amnesty bill covering prisoners back to 1999 and plans to close El Helicoide prison.
In the US Congress, the Senate advanced then blocked resolutions limiting Trump's war powers on Venezuela, and the House narrowly defeated one on 22 January.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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