Operation Date
January 3, 2026
Aircraft Deployed
150+
Operation Duration
2h 20m
Humanitarian Need
7.9M
Executive Summary
The capture of Nicolás Maduro by United States special operations forces on January 3, 2026, marks a watershed moment in 21st-century geopolitics. Executed under the aegis of Operation Southern Spear, this unilateral intervention has effectively dismantled the Chavista executive while precipitating a profound constitutional and diplomatic crisis.
As Maduro awaits trial in New York on narco-terrorism charges, Venezuela enters a volatile interregnum. The current situation is defined by a three-way tension between the remnants of the Maduro regime led by Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, a sidelined democratic opposition headed by María Corina Machado, and a resurgent United States administration asserting a modern iteration of the Monroe Doctrine.
Timeline of Events
Search and filter key developments leading to and following the January 2026 crisis
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Showing 7 of 7 events
August 8, 2025
Secret Directive Signed
President Trump signs a secret directive authorizing the Pentagon to use military force against Latin American drug cartels, establishing the legal framework for intervention.
October 15, 2025
CIA Authorization
Trump authorizes the CIA to operate inside Venezuela to address illegal migration and drug trafficking flows.
November 13, 2025
Operation Southern Spear Announced
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth formally announces Operation Southern Spear, a comprehensive military campaign targeting transnational criminal organizations.
January 3, 2026
Maduro Captured
U.S. military forces execute a precision raid on Caracas, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. Operation duration: 2 hours 20 minutes.
January 3, 2026
Delcy Rodríguez Assumes Power
Vice President Delcy Rodríguez becomes Acting President under Venezuelan constitutional succession, while signaling willingness to collaborate with the U.S.
January 4, 2026
Regional Condemnation
Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Chile, and Uruguay issue joint statement rejecting the unilateral military operations and calling for respect of Venezuelan sovereignty.
January 5, 2026
Maduro Court Appearance
Nicolás Maduro appears before a federal judge in New York to face charges of narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation, and weapons possession.