US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that American forces had captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro after what he described as a “large scale strike” on Venezuela.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “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.”
Trump to Address Media From Florida
Trump said he would speak to the media later in the day. He announced a news conference at 11:00 am (1600 GMT) at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.
Long-Standing US Accusations Against Maduro
The United States has repeatedly accused Maduro of turning Venezuela into a “narco-state” and manipulating elections. Maduro took power in 2013 after the death of former leader Hugo Chavez.
Maduro has denied the allegations. He has said Washington wants to seize Venezuela’s oil reserves, which are the largest in the world.
US Media Confirms American Involvement
Several US media organisations, including CBS News and Fox News, earlier reported that unnamed officials had confirmed US military involvement.
CBS News said the operation was ordered directly by President Donald Trump.
Explosions Rock Caracas After Pressure Campaign
Reports of explosions in Caracas followed months of rising US military and economic pressure on Maduro and Venezuela’s oil-based economy.
Washington has steadily increased its actions against the leftist government in recent months.
Major US Military Presence in the Caribbean
The United States has built a strong naval and air presence in the Caribbean region. This includes the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and several other warships.
As part of what the US calls an oil blockade, American forces have seized two oil tankers at sea. They have also carried out air strikes that reportedly killed more than 100 people, targeting small boats accused of drug trafficking.
Reasons Behind Trump’s Campaign Against Venezuela
Trump has given several reasons for his aggressive stance. He has accused Venezuela of being a major source of illegal drugs entering the United States. He has also claimed that Venezuela seized US oil interests.
Although Trump has not openly demanded Maduro’s removal, the US government — along with several European nations — does not recognise Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate leader.
In December, Trump said “it would be smart for (Maduro)” to step down. He has also warned that the Venezuelan leader’s “days are numbered.”
Attack Comes After Maduro’s Outreach
The reported attack on Caracas came just two days after Maduro tried to open talks with Trump. Maduro had offered cooperation on fighting drug trafficking and illegal migration.
Earlier, Trump told reporters that the US had destroyed a docking area used by Venezuelan drug boats. This would mark the first confirmed US strike on Venezuelan territory during the current campaign. Maduro has not commented on the incident.
US Still Rejects Maduro’s Presidency
The United States has refused to recognise Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate president since elections held during Trump’s first term.
International observers had said those elections were marred by irregularities, further deepening the dispute between Washington and Caracas.