Stanisland Magazine

Astonishing US strikes capture Venezuelan President. Here’s what you need to know.

Last updated: 8th January 2026

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• In an interview with The New York Times, Trump disclosed his plans for Venezuela saying: “We will rebuild it in a very profitable way,” adding “We’re going to be using oil, and we’re going to be taking oil”.
• Maduro pleads ‘not guilty’ to Manhattan court
• Sérgio França Danese, the Brazilian ambassador to the UN, told the forum: “The bombings on Venezuelan territory and the capture of its president cross an unacceptable line,”. “These acts constitute a very serious affront to the sovereignty of Venezuela and set an extremely dangerous precedent for the entire international community.”
• Maduro and wife, Cilia Flores, have arrived at Daniel Patrick Moynihan courthouse in Manhattan, New York
• Trump makes extraordinary statement: “Cuba is ready to fall,” adding they now have “…no income. They got all of their income from Venezuela, from the Venezuelan oil. They’re not getting any of it. Cuba literally is ready to fall.”
• Acting Venezuelan president Delcy Rodriguez makes a statement: “We extend an invitation to the US government to work together on an agenda for cooperation that is aimed toward shared development”.
• Newly disclosed indictment states Maduro let “cocaine-fueled corruption to flourish for his own benefit, for the benefit of members of his ruling regime, and for the benefit of his family members” and that he collaborated with, “some of the most violent and prolific drug traffickers and narco-terrorists in the world.”
• Nicholas Maduro will attend court on Monday.
• Donald Trump has stated that the US will “run” the country for a “safe, proper and judicious transition.” No further details were disclosed as to how this will happen.
• The US president has described Maduro as a “dictator” and a “drug kingpin”

• On Cuba: …as you know, (the country) is not doing very well right now. That system has not been a very good one for Cuba. The people there have suffered for many, many years and I think Cuba is going to be something we’ll end up talking about, because Cuba is a failing nation right now, very badly failing, and we want to help the people.”
• He continues: “It’s very similar in the sense that we want to help the people in Cuba, but we also want to help the people who were forced out of Cuba and living in this country. Do you want to say something about that, Marco?”
• Trump says Colombian President Gustavo Petro needs to “watch his a**”.
• UN spokesperson Stéphan Dujarric has said: “The secretary general continues to emphasise the importance of full respect – by all – of international law, including the UN charter. He’s deeply concerned that the rules of international law have not been respected,”

The United States, under the direction of President Donald J. Trump, has conducted air strikes on Venezuela, capturing its President, Nicolás Maduro and his wife. They will be transported to New York.

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Early morning attacks were carried out on its capital, Caracas, with explosions and low-flying aircraft witnessed over its airspace. 

President Donald Trump’s Statement

Posting to his own social media, Truth Social, he said:

“The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country.

This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement. Details to follow. There will be a News Conference today at 11 A.M., at Mar-a-Lago.

Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP”

Drug Trafficking and Terrorism Claims

The United States government has repeatedly claimed Nicholas Maduro’s administration is guilty of mass cocaine and fentanyl trafficking networks through groups such as Cartel de los Soles. For months, Washington has surrounded the country’s waters with gunboats and battleships, and recently intercepted oil tankers off the coast of the country.

In a statement to Fox News, Trump said: “We have the greatest oil companies in the world, the biggest, the greatest, and we’re going to be very much involved in it.”

Condemnation: How the World Reacted

Condemnation was swift, with allies of the South American country urging caution. Germany and Spain issued warnings calling for “escalation”, while Britain’s Keir Starmer warned that countries should “uphold international law”.

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Columbia’s Gustavo Pedro called it an “assault on the sovereignty of Venezuela and Latin America,” and also wrote to followers on social media, saying:

“They are currently bombing Caracas. Alert the whole world, they have attacked Venezuela. They are bombing with missiles. The OAS and the U.N. must meet immediately”.

Cuban President President Miguel Díaz-Canel said: 

“Our zone of peace is being brutally assaulted. State terrorism against the brave Venezuelan people and against Our America. Homeland or Death! We will prevail!”

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Beijing’s foreign ministry reacted with deep condemnation: “China is deeply shocked and strongly condemns the use of force by the US against a sovereign country and the use of force against the president of a country.”

It also added: “We urge the US to abide by international law and the purposes and principles of the UN charter and stop violating the sovereignty and security of other countries.”

The Russian Embassy in Venezuela confirmed it was “not attacked” while its government called it an “act of armed aggression”. 

Iran’s Foreign Minister was quoted by AFP as saying they “strongly condemns the American military attack on Venezuela and the “flagrant violation of the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country”.

Italy’s Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani said: “I am following the situation with our diplomatic mission in Caracas, paying particular attention to the Italian community. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is being kept constantly informed. The Ministry’s Crisis Unit is operational.”

Maduro and his wife, Cilia Adela Flores de Maduro, have been flown out of the country and will reportedly stand trial in the United States.

More to come…