2026 United States attack on Venezuela and capture of Nicolas Maduro
| Capture of Nicolas Maduro | |||||||
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| Part of Venezuela Crisis | |||||||
 Nicolas Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima. | |||||||
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On January 3, 2026, the United States led by Donald Trump launched an illegal attack and coup attempt on Venezuela via airstrikes on multiple locations across northern Venezuela as an act of imperialism which led to the capture of President Nicolas Maduro. He is currently being held captive and awaiting trial in New York City.[1]
The leadership of Venezuela remained unclear until January 5, when former vice president Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as interim president.[2] Trump has claimed that the U.S. will run Venezuela until a so-called "proper transition" which is a de-facto annexation. Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez confirmed that both Maduro and Flores are missing and demanded "proof of life" via an audio message on state television.
The aims of the American imperialists are to occupy Venezuela and its oil resources for their profit and turn it into a semi-colony. Trump stated that American firms would "go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure, the oil infrastructure, and start making money for the country," The attacks have been seen as a revival of the colonialist Monroe Doctrine.[3]
Background
The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela hosts the world's largest oil reserves, containing large amounts of crude oil which can be processed by the United States petrochemical industry on the Gulf Coast. Since September 1, 2025, the American imperialists have been conducting "Operation Southern Spear," a campaign of piracy and illegal attacks on fisher boats and other civilian targets under the veil of combating "drug cartels," which the US government alleges includes involvement from top Venezuelan officials such as Maduro.[3]
Events
Strikes in Venezuela (January 3)
According to official sources, over 80 Venezuelans and Cubans died during the US strikes in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas and other locations, which began on 02:01 and ended on 04:29 UTC−04:00. The Central Intelligence Agency and Special Forces were involved in the attack.[4]
Aftermath
Trial of Maduro and Flores (Janaury 5)
After his abduction, Maduro and his spouse were held on the USS Iwo Jima before being trafficked to New York City, where he was held in the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center (a prison infamous for its torturous conditions).
On January 5, Maduro and Flores were given a show trial. Flores appeared in the courtroom badly bruised. The indictment listed the charges as narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices. The couple entered a not guilty plea to the charges, and the imperialist judge ordered them to be held in captivity until at least March 17, 2026.[5]
Reactions
International
Cuba, France, China and various countries in Latin America have condemned the attack.
Communists
The Peru People's Movement released a statement on January 3 which condemned the attacks and declared their solidarity with the people of Venezuela against United States imperialism.[6] Other revolutionary publications and organizations did the same, including the International Communist League.[7]
Media coverage
The monopolist publications The New York Times and the Washington Post were aware of the impending aggression against Venezuela but refused to report it prior to the attack, allegedly for the safety of US soldiers.[8]
See also
References
- ↑ "US Imperialism Claims to have Obtained Control of Venezuela After Invasion and Kidnapping of President Maduro" (January 3, 2026). The Worker.
- ↑ "Delcy Rodriguez formally sworn in as Venezuela's interim president" (January 5, 2026). Reuters.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "May the Invaders Lose: The US Imperialist War of Aggression Against Venezuela" (January 4, 2026). The Worker.
- ↑ Idrees Ali, Erin Banco, Steve Holland and Phil Stewart (January 4, 2026). "Mock house, CIA source and Special Forces: The US operation to capture Maduro". Reuters.
- ↑ "NYC: Venezuelan President Maduro and First Lady Flores Face First Hearing in Imperialist Court" (January 5, 2026). The Worker.
- ↑ "MPP: STATEMENT - AGAINST THE WAR OF YANKEE IMPERIALIST AGGRESSION TO VENEZUELA -" (January 3, 2026).
- ↑ "ICL Declaration on Venezuela" (January 3, 2026).
- ↑ Tom Durante (January 3, 2026). "NYT and WaPo Knew About Trump’s Venezuela Raid in Advance — Here’s Why They Didn’t Report It Right Away". Mediaite.