The United States will be “very strongly involved” in Venezuela’s oil industry following an operation that President Donald Trump claims resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, amid reported airstrikes on Caracas.
Trump made the remarks on Saturday in interviews and social media posts, hours after residents in the Venezuelan capital reported multiple explosions and low-flying aircraft over the city. The US president described the action as a “large-scale strike against Venezuela,” marking the most dramatic escalation yet in Washington’s long-running campaign to remove Maduro from power.
Speaking to Fox News, Trump said American energy firms would play a central role in rebuilding and operating Venezuela’s oil sector following the operation.
“We have the greatest oil companies in the world, the biggest and the best, and we’re going to be very much involved in it,” Trump said. “We’re going to rebuild the oil infrastructure, and we’re going to run the country right.”
The comments signalled a potential shift from sanctions-based pressure to direct US involvement in Venezuela’s energy industry, which holds the world’s largest proven crude oil reserves.
Vice President Vance Defends Operation
US Vice President JD Vance publicly backed the operation, citing allegations of drug trafficking, oil theft, and US criminal indictments against Maduro.
“The administration gave Maduro multiple off-ramps,” Vance wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “The drug trafficking must stop, and the stolen oil must be returned to the United States. Maduro now knows that President Trump means what he says.”
Responding to criticism over the legality of the action, Vance argued that Maduro’s status as a sitting head of state did not shield him from US law enforcement.
“You don’t get to avoid justice for drug trafficking in the United States because you live in a palace in Caracas,” Vance said.
Trump Claims Maduro and Wife Taken Into US Custody
Trump claimed that Maduro and Flores were captured by US forces during an early-morning raid on a military facility where the Venezuelan leader was staying. According to sources cited by US media, American troops stormed the compound, detained the couple, and flew them out of the country.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the United States had “successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader” in coordination with US law enforcement agencies.
He added that Maduro had been placed aboard the USS Iwo Jima and was being transported to New York to face charges in federal court. Trump said the Venezuelan leader would be tried in Manhattan on charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and weapons-related offences.
Indictments and Role of US Special Forces
US Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that Maduro and Flores had been indicted in the Southern District of New York on multiple counts.
“These include narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and weapons offences involving machine guns and destructive devices,” Bondi said in a statement. She thanked Trump for “demanding accountability on behalf of the American people” and praised the US military for executing what she called a successful mission.
US officials told CBS News that Maduro was captured by members of Delta Force, the elite US military unit specialising in high-risk capture missions. Delta Force previously carried out the 2019 operation that killed Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
The Pentagon has declined to provide further operational details.
Explosions Reported in Caracas
Residents in Caracas reported at least seven explosions in the early hours of Saturday, marking the third day of 2026. Videos circulating on social media showed fires, thick plumes of smoke, power outages, and aircraft flying at low altitude near a major military base in the southern part of the city.
The apparent strike lasted less than 30 minutes. There were no immediate reports of casualties, and Venezuelan authorities have not released official damage assessments.
Venezuela Mobilises Armed Forces
Venezuelan Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino López announced the nationwide mobilisation of military forces, calling the US action “the worst aggression” Venezuela has ever faced.
In a video posted to social media, Padrino López urged calm and unity while warning against unrest. He said all branches of the armed forces had been placed on alert following what he described as “orders from President Maduro,” without directly addressing reports that the president had been captured.
The Venezuelan government accused Washington of attacking both civilian and military facilities, describing the operation as an “imperialist attack.” Authorities declared a “state of external disturbance,” granting expanded military powers and allowing the temporary suspension of certain civil rights. Supporters of the government were urged to mobilise and take to the streets.
Months-Long US Pressure Campaign
Saturday’s operation followed months of escalating pressure by the Trump administration against Maduro, who has ruled Venezuela since 2013 after succeeding Hugo Chávez.
Washington has accused Maduro of presiding over a “narco-state,” rigging Venezuela’s most recent presidential election, and suppressing opposition forces. The election result has been rejected by the United States, Venezuela’s opposition, and several foreign governments.
Trump has repeatedly threatened military action and earlier this week said it would be “smart” for Maduro to step aside. He has also described the United States as being in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels operating in the Western Hemisphere.
Since September, the US military has carried out at least 35 known strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats, killing at least 115 people, according to figures released by the administration. These operations followed a significant US military build-up near South America.
Maduro has consistently rejected US accusations, dismissing the pressure campaign as a pretext for regime change and accusing Washington of orchestrating a Western-backed conspiracy to seize Venezuela’s resources.
As global reactions mount and questions over legality, sovereignty, and escalation persist, the situation in Venezuela appears far from resolved. What began as a claimed law-enforcement operation has rapidly evolved into a geopolitical crisis with far-reaching consequences for the region and global energy markets.
