The US attack on Venezuela was a "spectacular assault unseen since World War II," conducted "in the air, by land, and by sea." Donald Trump emphasized this at a press conference at Mar-a-Lago, comparing the raid in which President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were captured to the operations against Soleimani, al-Baghdadi, and Iran's nuclear facilities.
"We will stay and govern until a fair and just transition occurs," Trump said, adding that "American oil companies will establish themselves in Venezuela." The US will be "heavily involved in Venezuela's oil industry," and "we are evaluating leadership options," the US president said, assuring that "they will not allow anyone from the regime to succeed Maduro." And that the United States is "ready to launch a second, more significant attack, if necessary."
It was Trump himself who posted—on his social media account, Truth—the first photo of the Venezuelan president since his capture: Maduro is shown handcuffed, his hands exposed, holding a bottle of water, blindfolded, wearing sunglasses and large, noise-cancelling headphones. Detained aboard the Iwo Jima, bound for New York—where he will be transferred with his wife to a Brooklyn prison— he could appear in court as early as Monday. "There is overwhelming evidence against the Maduros, they will face American justice," Trump threatened. And again: "He should watch his back."
The US has also indicted the couple's son, Nicolas Ernesto , on drug and firearms charges. As Venezuela descends into chaos, opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado breaks her silence: "We are ready to return to power; the time for freedom has come." But Trump is cautious about this possibility: "He doesn't have the support or respect to lead Venezuela."
The tycoon announced that he followed the operation in real time from Mar-a-Lago and that the intention was to act four days ago, but bad weather prevented it. Trump also ruled out any American casualties: a "couple of guys" were injured, he explained, "but they're back and apparently they're doing pretty well ." Meanwhile, details of the capture, which occurred in the middle of the Venezuelan night (7 a.m. Italian time), are taking shape.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were taken by US forces from their bedroom while they were sleeping. The Venezuelan president ultimately tried to negotiate, but "I said no," Trump later revealed in an interview with Fox, during which he compared Maduro's capture to the killing of Soleimani. According to CNN, the Trump administration had begun preparations for the operation as early as mid-December : plans focused on removing Maduro and establishing a transitional government composed of a group of Venezuelans.
"They've pulled off a truly impressive operation," says US Vice President J.D. Vance, revealing that Trump has in the past "offered Venezuela several ways out." For the commander in chief, Maduro's capture is "a signal that we will not be intimidated," and he threatens Venezuelan government officials if they side with Maduro: "If they remain loyal, the future will be very, very bad for them."
But the US move isn't met with widespread approval from diplomats. Paris warns: Maduro's capture violates international law. Palazzo Chigi defends "self-defense," even though "consistent with Italy's historic position, the government believes that external military action is not the right path." Beijing, which urges its citizens to avoid travel to Venezuela, "firmly condemns" the US raids there. Trump tries to reassure China, a major importer of Caracas' crude oil : "They will get the oil." Meanwhile, Russia is calling for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council tomorrow. And UN President Antonio Guterres himself expresses concern that "international law has not been respected": the US operation is a "dangerous precedent."
Machado herself spoke out: "We are ready to return to power; the time for freedom has come," said the Nobel Peace Prize winner. And Venezuelan President-elect Edmundo Gonzales also announced from his exile in Madrid: "We are ready for the great operation of rebuilding our nation."
This evening , Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, live on television, called for the "immediate release of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores," saying that he is "the only president of Venezuela."
(Unioneonline/D)