Venezuela woke on Saturday to a tense mix of relief, celebration, and fear after U.S. forces captured President Nicolás Maduro following a night of explosions and targeted strikes across the Caracas Valley.
As residents slowly made their way back outside, reactions diverged dramatically, with some Venezuelans voicing cautious optimism that Maduro’s ouster might create a chance for long‑awaited change after years of turmoil and repression, while others denounced the operation, gathered to demand his freedom, branded the detention as a kidnapping, and accused the authorities of violating national sovereignty.
Despite a few scattered moments of celebration, a sense of uncertainty permeated many conversations. Several individuals noted that they worried about potential retaliation and growing instability in the coming days, highlighting the ongoing activity of pro-government armed groups known as “colectivos,” which residents described seeing riding through neighborhoods on motorcycles while carrying weapons. The atmosphere was also influenced by a newly approved law from the government-controlled National Assembly that classifies any support for U.S. naval blockades as “treason,” intensifying the perceived dangers of speaking publicly.
U.S. officials described the raid as the culmination of months of intelligence-gathering and rehearsals. A small team tracked Maduro’s routines and locations, and elite units trained using a full-scale replica of a Caracas safe house to rehearse entry routes. The plan—dubbed “Operation Absolute Resolve”—was tightly held and, according to the U.S. account, was not shared in advance with Congress.
The order to launch the mission was authorized late Friday night U.S. time, shortly before midnight in Caracas, with commanders aiming to maximize surprise and operate under cover of darkness. The operation combined air, land, and sea actions and lasted just over two hours, according to senior military officials.
Maduro and his wife were then transported to New York to face charges related to drug trafficking and weapons—allegations he has previously rejected. From Washington, President Donald Trump said the United States would assume “temporary” control to oversee a transition and manage Venezuela’s oil resources until a permanent replacement is established—an announcement that intensified political tension inside Venezuela and alarmed governments across the region.
Global responses emerged quickly, as Brazil’s leadership cautioned that the forceful takeover posed a “dangerous precedent” for the international community, prompting growing demands for rapid deliberations within multilateral forums.
Venezuelans living outside Venezuela marked the moment across the cities where they have resettled after years of large‑scale migration, yet even among those who approved of Maduro’s arrest, a measured tone dominated: the action may signal a pivotal shift, but it offers no assurance of swift stability. The key question—both within Venezuela and throughout its diaspora—continues to be what comes next and who will ultimately wield real authority on the ground.
