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The United States President Donald Trump has announced what he described as the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, following a purported United States operation in Venezuela.
Trump made the announcement on Saturday via a post on his Truth Social media platform, claiming that the operation involved a large-scale U.S. strike and the subsequent removal of the Venezuelan leader from the country.
Ejes Gist News reports, that the operation was carried out in coordination with U.S. law enforcement agencies, with further details promised at a press conference scheduled to hold at Mar-a-Lago later the same day.
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In his statement, Trump wrote that the United States had “successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader,” adding that President Maduro and his wife had been “captured and flown out of the country.” He did not specify the location where the couple was taken, nor did he provide operational details to support the claim.
Trump also announced that additional information would be released during a formal news conference, stating that the public should expect clarification on the circumstances surrounding the alleged capture.
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Background: U.S.–Venezuela Tensions
Relations between the United States and Venezuela have remained strained for more than a decade, marked by sanctions, diplomatic isolation, and legal actions against senior Venezuelan officials.
In 2020, during Trump’s first term as president, the U.S. Department of Justice unsealed indictments against Nicolás Maduro and several top members of his government. The charges accused them of narcotics trafficking, corruption, and involvement in what U.S. prosecutors described as a “narco-terrorism” conspiracy.
At the time, U.S. authorities alleged that Maduro had worked with armed groups to flood the United States with cocaine, accusations that the Venezuelan government strongly denied, dismissing them as politically motivated.
Increased Reward for Maduro’s Arrest
The latest claim comes months after the United States government increased the reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Nicolás Maduro.
The reward was reportedly doubled to $50 million, with U.S. officials citing alleged links to international drug trafficking and organized crime networks. Similar bounties were placed on other senior Venezuelan figures, including the country’s defense minister.
Washington has maintained that the legal actions are part of broader efforts to combat transnational crime, while Venezuela has consistently accused the United States of attempting to undermine its sovereignty and force regime change.
Political and Diplomatic Implications
If confirmed, the capture of a sitting head of state would represent an unprecedented escalation in U.S.–Venezuela relations and could trigger significant diplomatic fallout across Latin America and beyond.
International law experts have previously noted that the apprehension of a foreign president outside a declared armed conflict would raise complex legal questions involving sovereignty, extradition, and the use of force.
At this stage, however, the claim remains based solely on Trump’s social media statement, with no supporting evidence released publicly.
Awaiting Official Statements
Observers are now awaiting statements from U.S. federal agencies, the Venezuelan government, and international bodies to clarify the situation and determine whether Trump’s announcement reflects an actual operation or a political declaration.
Further updates are expected following the announced press conference, where Trump indicated that more details would be provided regarding the alleged capture and its circumstances.
