United States President Donald Trump announced that Washington will assume direct control of Venezuela following a sudden military operation that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, who were transported to a United States military facility in New York. The declaration represents one of the most dramatic assertions of American power in the Western Hemisphere in decades, immediately reframing Venezuela from a contested political arena into a country under foreign administration.
Speaking from his Mar a Lago residence in Florida, Trump framed the intervention as a necessary step toward restoring order and stability, while offering no firm timeline for how long the United States intends to remain in charge. His remarks signalled a sharp departure from sanctions based pressure and diplomatic isolation, replacing them with overt military stewardship over a sovereign state.
Trump Outlines Transitional Rule Without Timetable
At the press conference, Trump openly acknowledged that the United States intends to govern Venezuela during an interim period, stressing that the move is temporary and conditional. He said the goal was to prepare the country for what he described as a safe and judicious transition, while confirming that senior figures in his administration would oversee the process.
We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition
Trump further stated that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth would coordinate with a designated transition team, underscoring that the operation was backed at the highest levels of government and integrated across diplomatic and military institutions.
Military Pressure Remains As Region Braces
The United States president made it clear that the operation may not be the final act of force against Venezuela. Senior military officials confirmed that American forces would maintain an elevated presence in the region following the initial strikes and the detention of Maduro, citing the need for sustained readiness.
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff indicated that American units would remain deployed to ensure stability and respond rapidly to emerging threats. The continued posture suggests that Washington views the situation as fluid, with further air or special operations remaining an option should resistance or unrest escalate.
Energy Interests And Strategic Calculations Exposed
Beyond security justifications, Trump confirmed that the United States would retain a presence tied to Venezuela’s energy sector, authorising American oil companies to assume control of infrastructure and investment planning. This was presented as economic stabilisation, even as the existing oil embargo remains formally in place.
Analysts argue that Venezuela’s vast oil wealth has long been central to Washington’s strategic thinking. Control over energy assets, combined with geopolitical positioning, has elevated Venezuela from a regional concern into a focal point of American hemispheric policy, particularly as global competition for resources intensifies.
Long Planned Operation Reveals Intelligence Depth
United States officials disclosed that American intelligence services had tracked Maduro’s movements for months, preparing for what they described as a highly precise operation. Planning reportedly included extensive rehearsals and a deliberate wait for favourable external conditions before execution.
Trump revealed that he authorised the mission days before its execution but delayed the final order until operational conditions aligned. The disclosures paint the intervention as calculated rather than impulsive, reinforcing claims that Washington had committed to a decisive course well in advance.
Monroe Doctrine Returns To Centre Stage
International analysts have characterised the intervention as a modern reassertion of the Monroe Doctrine, the long standing policy used historically to justify American dominance in Latin America. By invoking counter narcotics and counter terrorism rationales, Washington has sought to legitimise military action beyond its borders.
Experts from Chinese academic institutions argued that earlier sanctions and diplomatic pressure failed to achieve regime change, prompting a shift toward direct force. They noted that under Trump’s second term, Latin America has been elevated to a top tier strategic priority aimed at preventing rival powers from expanding influence in the region.
Power Vacuum Risks And Legal Disputes Emerge
Following Maduro’s capture, Venezuela’s Supreme Court reportedly ordered Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to assume executive authority, triggering a constitutional crisis compounded by international non recognition. Washington continues to reject the legitimacy of Maduro’s administration, while Venezuela’s opposition insists an exiled figure remains the rightful leader.
Rodríguez confirmed that Venezuela’s National Defense Council convened an emergency session and demanded the immediate release of Maduro and his wife, setting the stage for internal confrontation amid external pressure.
Global Alarm And Diplomatic Backlash Intensify
The military intervention prompted swift condemnation at the United Nations, where Venezuela’s permanent mission accused the United States of violating international law and called for an emergency Security Council meeting. The UN itself expressed alarm and urged adherence to the UN Charter.
China’s Foreign Ministry said it was deeply shocked and warned that the action threatens regional stability, while European governments echoed calls for de escalation and dialogue. The breadth of reaction reflects deep global unease over the precedent set by Washington’s direct seizure of control over a sovereign nation.
