In a stunning late-night operation, United States military forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from their sleep, confirming a major escalation in the long-standing tensions between Washington and Caracas. The US government stated that the couple will now face indictment in the United States, marking an unprecedented move in international politics.
The Elite Delta Force Operation
The capture was executed by the US Army's elite Delta Force, a special operations unit typically reserved for the most dangerous covert missions. Former US President Donald Trump, commenting on the event, revealed that the team extracted the couple from a "highly protected fortress." Initial reports indicate a notable absence of significant resistance from Venezuelan air defenses or ground forces during the incursion, raising immediate questions about the circumstances.
This military action followed confirmed US strikes on Venezuelan territory. The whereabouts of Maduro's extensive security detail, which included Cuban counterintelligence officers he reportedly trusted more than his own, remain unclear. It is not known if any conflict occurred before the capture.
Maduro's Paranoia and a Rejected Negotiation
In the lead-up to the raid, Maduro was described as growing increasingly paranoid about a potential US attack. He had adopted extreme security measures, including regularly rotating his sleeping location, frequently changing cellphones to avoid tracking, reducing his public appearances, and cutting back on live broadcasts.
As details emerged, Trump disclosed that Maduro had attempted to negotiate a deal in the final days before the operation. "I didn't want to negotiate," Trump stated. "I said, 'Nope, we got to do it.'" This rejection of a negotiated exit has become a central point of analysis.
Questions and Claims of a "Negotiated Exit"
Following the confirmation of Maduro's capture, opposition figures within Venezuela were quick to claim that the seemingly peaceful operation could be nothing more than a pre-arranged and negotiated exit strategy for the embattled leader, as reported by Sky News. This theory suggests a covert agreement may have been in place.
Meanwhile, experts like Latin America analyst Mariano de Alba have raised operational questions, querying the necessity of bombings at multiple sites if the sole objective was to extract Maduro from the country. The full strategic rationale behind the US strikes remains part of the unfolding story.
The event sends shockwaves through global geopolitics, setting a dramatic precedent for direct military action against a sitting head of state. The world now watches for the legal proceedings in the US and the political vacuum in Venezuela.
