WASHINGTON, Jan 4: United States President Donald Trump has declared that Washington will take direct control of Venezuela until what he described as a safe and orderly political transition becomes possible. His remarks came just hours after US forces carried out air strikes on Caracas and detained Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro along with his wife, marking a dramatic escalation in US involvement, Al Jazeera reported.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Trump said the United States would oversee Venezuela temporarily, arguing that the country had been mismanaged for years. He said Washington had no interest in installing a long-term replacement leadership but claimed intervention was necessary to prevent continued instability, according to Al Jazeera.
The US operation unfolded in the early hours of Saturday, with strikes reported in the Venezuelan capital followed by the capture of Maduro. US media later reported that a plane carrying the Venezuelan leader landed in New York state on Saturday evening, a development also covered by Al Jazeera.
Television footage aired by major US networks showed American officials escorting a man identified as Maduro off an aircraft at Stewart International Airport, located around 97 kilometers northwest of New York City. The images quickly spread across global media, drawing sharp reactions, Al Jazeera noted.
Backed by military, Venezuela’s Maduro hits back at rival
Maduro’s detention followed months of pressure from Washington, including the seizure of Venezuelan oil tankers and operations targeting alleged drug trafficking routes in the Caribbean. Some of these actions had already drawn criticism for alleged extrajudicial killings, a point highlighted in Al Jazeera’s coverage.
US authorities have long accused Maduro of links to drug cartels, allegations he has consistently denied. Maduro has said Washington’s real aim is to remove him from power and gain access to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, a claim repeated by analysts cited by Al Jazeera.
During the same press conference, Trump said large US oil companies would enter Venezuela to repair what he called a broken oil sector and restart production. He claimed this would benefit ordinary Venezuelans by boosting wealth and stability, Al Jazeera reported.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro faces multiple charges, including narco terrorism conspiracy, cocaine trafficking, and weapons related offences. She said he would face trial in US courts. A Justice Department official told Reuters that Maduro is expected to appear in a Manhattan federal court on Monday, as noted by Al Jazeera.
The US action has sparked strong international backlash. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva condemned the attack as a violation of international law, warning that such actions risk global instability. His remarks were widely shared, including by Al Jazeera.
Ben Saul, the UN special rapporteur on human rights and counterterrorism, described Maduro’s detention as an illegal abduction and condemned what he called US aggression against Venezuela, according to statements cited by Al Jazeera.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres also expressed deep concern through his spokesperson, saying the move set a dangerous precedent and stressed the need to respect international law and the UN Charter, Al Jazeera reported.
Inside Venezuela, Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez issued a defiant message, urging unity and calm while insisting the country’s sovereignty was not negotiable. His statement reflected a hardening stance within the Venezuelan military, Al Jazeera said.
Uncertainty remains over how the United States plans to govern Venezuela and for how long. Trump claimed that US officials had spoken with Vice President Delcy Rodriguez and suggested she had agreed to cooperate, a claim reported by Al Jazeera.
Rodriguez later rejected that narrative, publicly demanding Maduro’s immediate release and insisting he remains Venezuela’s only legitimate president. She said the country was ready to defend its resources and independence, Al Jazeera noted.
Al Jazeera’s Latin America editor Lucia Newman said Rodriguez’s tone did not suggest any willingness to accept US control, describing her remarks as strongly supportive of Maduro.
Journalist Sissi de Flaviis said reactions among Venezuelans ranged from disbelief and celebration to deep concern. She said Trump’s announcement had shocked many, leaving people anxious about who would lead the country in the days and months ahead, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Former US naval officer Harlan Ullman warned that the idea of the United States running Venezuela could backfire badly. He said Washington lacks the capacity and planning needed to manage such a complex country, an assessment shared in an interview with Al Jazeera.
