In late August 2025, the United States deployed war ships off the coast of Venezuela in an operation to combat drug trafficking, escalate tensions, and increase American military presence in the Caribbean. On September 2nd, the US carried out its first strike against what was declared a drug-carrying vessel operated by the cartel, Tren de Aragua. Since then, many similar and fatal strikes have been carried out in order to attempt to minimize the drug trade. Tren de Aragua is considered a “foreign terrorist organization” by the US, a designation that was used for other groups such as al-Qaida. Combatting this gang has not only become a priority for the US, but also the many nations in which it operates. On October 24th, Pete Hegseth, US Secretary of War, ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford to the region. This is the US military’s most advanced aircraft carrier, leading to the significant escalation of military presence, the most notable in decades. Many consecutive strikes were continuously carried out following this event on boats allegedly carrying drugs. However the most significant strike up to date, came months later.
A historic day for Venezuelans finally came on January 3rd, 2026. The US conducted a major military operation in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. The precise operation took a total of two hours and twenty minutes, employed by land, air, and sea. The large-scale strike began around 2 a.m. local time (1 am E.T.), triggered by a series of explosions that went off. The purpose of this operation: arrest illegitimate dictator Nicolás Maduro. Military activity and damage was concentrated at four distinct sites: Fort Tiuna Military Complex, La Carlota Air Base, La Guaira Port, and El Higuerote Airport. The US focused on fracturing air defense batteries, radars, and important military bases as well as targeting electrical power.
The American military also attacked Maduro’s bunkers and possible locations for which he could be hidden. A small team of American spies had been monitoring Maduro for months, documenting what he wore, ate, and where he slept. American troops began to flood Maduro’s compound, which President Trump conveyed that “the Venezuelan president – who has reportedly increased his reliance on Cuban bodyguards in recent months – attempted to flee to a safe room.” His bodyguards reportedly knew what was going to occur as the operation was taking place. Maduro attempted to get away, yet completely failed in doing so, ending up in American hands. Ultimately, both Maduro, and his wife Cilia Flores were captured, flown out of Caracas, and taken to New York to face the American justice system. This complex operation was executed with no reported lives lost for the US military.
Maduro is largely known internationally for his prominent role in propelling the Venezuelan refugee crisis, drug state, humanitarian crisis and economic crash. But many were left confused after the arrest of his wife, Cilia Flores. Flores is far from innocent by any means. Maduro’s dictator agenda has been rumored to be controlled by his wife, being somewhat of the “brains” behind the operation. While operating from the “shadows”, Flores became a very powerful political figure in Venezuela “in which nearly every major decision ran through her.” Although she came from a lower middle class background, she began to amass massive rapid amounts of wealth, deeply unexplained. Much like all other current Venezuelan politicians, the large sums of money which they enjoy are stolen from the people through the institution leaving the rest of the country completely impoverished. Flores began her political rise as a lawyer in the 90s and grew increasingly closer to Hugo Chávez, Maduro’s predecessor. Chávez spent a few years locked up beginning in 1992 after a failed coup attempt, during this time Cilia Flores began to “[climb] the ranks Chávez’s socialist movement”. She led the team of lawyers that helped to free Chávez from incarceration. Flores met Maduro when he was still a bus driver, however she formed him into the dictator that he is today. Zair Mundaray, a former Venezuelan prosecutor investigating Human Rights issues, told The New York Times “She is a fundamental figure in corruption in Venezuela — absolutely fundamental — and especially in the structure of power.” Flores has, in many ways, been controlling the strategy and power behind her husband’s name.
Additionally, Celia Flores has extremely close ties to the drug trade. Her nephews, Efrain Antonio Campo Flores and Franqui Francisco Flores De Freitas, were arrested by the US while conducting an illegal drug trade. Flores’nephews were arrested in Haiti in 2015 and taken to New York, where they faced charges for illegal drugs. They were both sentenced to 18 years, but eventually released in 2022 by the Biden administration, in exchange for five American oil executives.
Along with his wife, Nicolás Maduro has very close members of the government that have deeply worsened and controlled the regime. This includes; Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez who controls the military, Delcy Rodriguez who controls the oil, her brother Jorge Rodriguez who controls the media, and Diosdado Cabello the Interior Minister who enforces the ideals left by Chávez. These are the real manipulators behind authoritarian control. As they attempt to project continuity for the regime, it is unclear where the future of the country is headed as the same system remains in place. Delcy Rodriguez served as Maduro’s vice president and was sworn into the position of interim president following his arrest on January 3rd . However Delcy Rodriguez does not represent the Venezuelan people. With a clear majority of votes in the 2024 presidential elections, Edmundo Gonzalez was recognized internationally for his win. But within Venezuela, election fraud prevailed and Maduro continued to assume illegitimate power. Maria Corina Machado, 2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner, spearheaded the opposition movement and stood with Edmundo Gonzalez after being wrongfully banned from the ballot. Gonzalez and Machado led a powerful and influential opposition campaign. These are the individuals that represent the struggle and fight of the Venezuelan people. This pair is who the Venezuelan people want to see lead the country into a better and more prosperous future. A country that was once the richest in South America was completely destroyed by an authoritarian regime and wrongful leadership.
In President Trump’s brief following the exfiltration of Maduro, he warned, “if [Delcy Rodriguez] doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro.” The US looks to ensure Rodriguez cooperates and assists in the goals that the US has laid out for Venezuela. Although Venezuela can no longer take any threat lightly, it is unsure what will happen next. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has outlined the next steps for helping to rebuild Venezuela’s economy, stabilize the country, and finally establish democratic leadership after many years. US-Venezuela relations are certainly not concluded, and there will undeniably be updates in the time to come.
Decades of hunger, shortages, gang warfare, political prisoners, murders, kidnappings, torture, and finally a step towards freedom of the Venezuelan people has been made. This arrest was monumental for the country and was celebrated around the world by the Venezuelan diaspora. This economic and political crisis has forced more than 7.9 million people to flee Venezuela, since 2014. A country that historically received many immigrants and refugees, became its own humanitarian crisis. So rich in natural resources, yet its citizens struggle to get through daily life. Beginning in 1999, when Chávez began his first presidential term, until Maduro’s arrest in 2026. 27 years of abused power and an authoritarian state. 27 years of praying for a better future for Venezuela.