The United States military conducted an early morning raid to apprehend Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, resulting in at least 24 Venezuelan security personnel and 32 Cuban officers killed, regional authorities confirmed.
Maduro was taken into U.S. custody to face longstanding federal charges related to drug trafficking, a move that drew swift reactions from international leaders and ignited discussion over future U.S. strategy in Latin America.
Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab reported "dozens" of deaths, blaming the operation for both civilian and official casualties. He described the incident as a “war crime” and launched a probe into the circumstances surrounding the raid. The Venezuelan military published a memorial video online mourning the loss of their guards, featuring somber music, images of the fallen, and footage of American aircraft over Caracas.
United States Moves In Swiftly Without a Troop Plan
According to Military.com, the raid occurred early Saturday, targeting a compound guarded by Cuban personnel. Maduro and his wife were taken into custody without incident on U.S. soil, where the now-former president pleaded not guilty to the charges in a federal court on Monday.
In Cuba, the Ministry of Defense declared a two-day mourning period after confirming that 32 of its personnel were also killed during the operation. Havana had long deployed security support to bolster Maduro’s government, further cementing its role in the regional power puzzle that the U.S. has now disturbed.
Former Venezuelan vice president Delcy Rodriguez has been appointed as the acting head of state. Still, questions remain about whether she holds real autonomy or is simply a placeholder amid new American involvement in a deeply scarred nation.
Operation Backed By Trump, Touted As Long-Awaited Justice
President Donald Trump defended the operation strongly, saying the detention of Maduro was a long-overdue act supported by both sides of the political aisle. During a speech on Tuesday, Trump stated, “They’ve been after this guy for years and years and years.”
He also took a moment to criticize opponents, adding, “You know, at some point, they should say, ‘You know, you did a great job. Thank you. Congratulations.” His quip, aimed squarely at Democrats, reflects a larger belief that the mission’s success is being politically downplayed despite years of bipartisan interest in capturing Maduro.
Trump-era officials aren’t the only ones briefing lawmakers. On Monday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio updated congressional leaders, while House Speaker Mike Johnson clarified that the United States has no intention of stationing troops in Venezuela. “This is not a regime change,” Johnson emphasized, likely attempting to cool rumors of a deeper intervention.
International Tensions Rise Over U.S. Strategy
Polling conducted by The Washington Post and SSRS shows that Americans are evenly split, with around 40% backing the military intervention, 40% against it, and 20% unsure. However, a striking 90% agreed that Venezuelans should select their own leadership, highlighting fatigue with heavy-handed foreign involvement.
International critics haven’t been shy. Leaders from Europe released a joint statement opposing recent U.S. interest in Greenland, asserting the territory’s sovereignty as strictly Denmark’s and Greenland’s affair. While unrelated directly to the Venezuela incident, the timing suggests growing concern over what some view as a more assertive American foreign stance.
Trump hasn't exactly tamped down those signals, recently renewing his idea of buying Greenland “for security,” and escalating tension with Colombia. Over the weekend, he accused that nation’s president of fueling the U.S. cocaine trade, calling him “a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States.”
Colombia Pushes Back As Allies Watch
That accusation did not go unanswered. Colombia's Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio stated Tuesday that she would file a diplomatic complaint and expressed a need for greater coordination against the drug trade. “The Trump administration must know in more detail about all that we are doing,” she said.
Other Colombian leaders repeated their interest in maintaining drug enforcement ties with the U.S., aiming to shift the public conversation away from incendiary remarks and back toward practical cooperation. However, doubts persist about whether the administration’s tone is compatible with lasting partnerships.
While the White House insists there are no plans for boots on the ground in Venezuela, the credible use of force and sharp rhetoric toward neighboring governments are adding to a narrative that Washington is gearing up for a more hands-on role in the hemisphere.
As for Maduro, his legal battle is just beginning—but for America, the harder questions may concern not what just happened, but what happens next. Conservatives argue that the mission is long overdue for justice; critics warn it may be the start of something far more entangled.
