Venezuela: Security

Domestic

The central development was the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro by U.S. military forces in a raid on Caracas. The operation, which involved significant U.S. troop presence and support from a CIA source within the government, resulted in numerous Venezuelan and Cuban military casualties and left a power vacuum being exploited by armed groups. Following his capture, Maduro and his wife were taken to the United States, where they pleaded not guilty to drug charges in a New York court. The Venezuelan attorney general denounced the raid as an act of war, and the government deployed militias and detained journalists while attempting to maintain control. Subsequent instability was marked by heavy gunfire and explosions near the presidential palace, an incident the White House stated it was not involved in.

International

The U.S. operation against Maduro significantly heightened regional and global tensions. The action drew international criticism and prompted warnings for Americans to leave Venezuela. In response, the U.S. is reportedly planning to establish a CIA presence in the country and target other security officials. The event strained relations with Russia and Cuba, with the latter receiving the remains of soldiers killed in the raid. Regionally, Colombia deployed thousands of soldiers to its border with Venezuela after leaders of armed groups fled into Colombian territory. Concurrently, the U.S. seized several oil tankers, including Russian-flagged vessels, linked to Venezuela's "shadow fleet." U.S. political dynamics saw Congress attempt, but fail, to limit further military action, while Trump hinted at potential future targets, including Iran.