In the early hours of Saturday, the geopolitical map of the Western Hemisphere shifted abruptly after U.S. forces carried out a dramatic operation in Venezuela that American officials say resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
The operation, described by President Donald Trump as a joint military and law-enforcement action, immediately ignited diplomatic backlash, legal controversy in Washington, and acute anxiety across global energy markets.
According to Trump, who announced the operation on Truth Social, U.S. forces executed a “large-scale strike” aimed at enforcing arrest warrants issued by the Southern District of New York, where Maduro and Flores have been indicted on charges including narco-terrorism, cocaine trafficking conspiracies, and weapons offenses.
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Attorney General Pam Bondi said the indictments allege that Maduro led what U.S. officials describe as the “Cartel de los Soles,” a network accused of funneling narcotics into the United States.
“Nicolas Maduro has been charged with Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States. They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts,” she said.
Trump said the operation was delayed for days due to weather conditions and was ultimately executed overnight, resulting in injuries but no U.S. fatalities. The president added that Maduro and his wife were extracted by helicopter, transferred to the USS Iwo Jima, and are expected to be brought to New York to face trial.
A Legal and Constitutional Flashpoint in Washington
The operation immediately exposed deep divisions in Washington. Republican leaders largely praised the move as long-overdue accountability for a leader the U.S. has long accused of criminal activity. Senate Majority Leader John Thune called the action “an important first step” toward justice, while House Speaker Mike Johnson said Trump was “putting American lives first.”
However, some GOP members have some questions. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green, R-Ga., the former Trump ally who had a falling-out with the president and is resigning from Congress on Jan. 5, was part of a small group within the GOP who questioned the attack.
?(W)hy is it ok for America to militarily invade, bomb, and arrest a foreign leader, but Russia is evil for invading Ukraine, and China is bad for aggression against Taiwan? Is it only ok if we do it? (I’m not endorsing Russia or China),” Greene posted to X on Saturday.
And Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., a frequent foil to Trump, questioned the constitutionality of Trump’s removal of Maduro.
“If this action were constitutionally sound, the Attorney General wouldn’t be tweeting that they’ve arrested the President of a sovereign country and his wife for possessing guns in violation of a 1934 U.S. firearm law,” Massie posted to X.
Democrats, however, questioned both the legality and strategic endgame of the operation. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Congress had not been notified and demanded immediate briefings. Senator Andy Kim warned that bypassing congressional authorization risked pulling the United States into another open-ended conflict.
“Pursuant to the Constitution, the framers gave Congress the sole power to declare war as the branch of government closest to the American people,” Jeffries said. “The House and Senate must be briefed immediately and compelling evidence to explain and justify this unauthorized use of military force should be presented forthwith.”
Trump dismissed constitutional concerns in interviews, arguing that notifying Congress in advance would have jeopardized operational security. Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed that position, calling the mission “largely a law enforcement function” that could not tolerate leaks.
The debate hinges on whether the operation constitutes an act of war or a cross-border enforcement action against an indicted individual. Critics point to the War Powers Resolution, while administration allies argue the president acted within Article II authority to protect U.S. personnel and enforce federal arrest warrants.
International Alarm and the Risk of Escalation
Reaction abroad was swift. Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro called for an emergency meeting of the Organization of American States and the United Nations, warning that Caracas was under attack. Venezuela, supported by Russia and China, requested an emergency session of the U.N. Security Council.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, through his spokesperson, said he was “deeply alarmed,” warning that the operation could set a dangerous precedent under international law. Venezuela’s U.N. ambassador accused the U.S. of violating the U.N. Charter’s prohibition on the use of force against a sovereign state.
These diplomatic reactions highlight the risk that the episode could widen into a broader confrontation, particularly if Maduro’s removal creates a power vacuum or triggers internal unrest.
Oil Markets Brace for a Reset
Beyond politics and law, the most immediate global impact may be felt in energy markets.
Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves (303 billion barrels), and even in its diminished state, its crude exports remain significant — particularly for buyers navigating sanctions through intermediaries. Traders were already on edge following Trump’s recent blockade of sanctioned oil tankers and stepped-up U.S. naval presence in the Caribbean.
If Maduro’s removal leads to U.S. access to Venezuelan oil, as many have predicted, analysts expect a sharp repricing of risk in oil markets. Crude oil has fallen sharply since the start of last year. U.S. access to Venezuelan oil, combined with a possible ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, is expected to significantly crash crude prices.
Trump said that US oil companies would be returning to Venezuela, and that the US will look to tap Venezuelan oil reserves.
But in the immediate days ahead, volatility is likely. Traders are watching shipping lanes, insurance premiums, and signals from OPEC members closely. Even reports that PDVSA facilities remain operational have done little to calm nerves, as ports such as La Guaira reportedly suffered damage, and the political chain of command remains uncertain.
However, the central unanswered question is governance. With Maduro reportedly removed, there is no clarity on who controls the state, the military, or PDVSA. The opposition, led by figures such as María Corina Machado, has so far refrained from public comment. By law, Venezuelan vice president Delcy Rodríguez should assume power in Maduro’s absence. But Trump said the US would “run the country” until a “safe, proper” election can occur.