Venezuela awoke Saturday to an uneasy blend of reassurance, jubilation, and dread after U.S. forces took President Nicolás Maduro into custody in the aftermath of a night marked by blasts and precision assaults throughout the Caracas Valley.
As residents slowly made their way back outside, reactions diverged dramatically, with some Venezuelans voicing cautious optimism that Maduro’s ouster might create a chance for long‑awaited change after years of turmoil and repression, while others denounced the operation, gathered to demand his freedom, branded the detention as a kidnapping, and accused the authorities of violating national sovereignty.
Despite the pockets of celebration, uncertainty dominated many conversations. Several people said they feared retaliation and instability in the days ahead, pointing to the continued presence of pro-government armed groups known as “colectivos,” whom residents reported seeing moving through neighborhoods on motorcycles with weapons. The atmosphere has been further shaped by a recently approved law by the government-controlled National Assembly that labels support for U.S. naval blockades as “treason,” heightening the perceived risks of speaking out.
U.S. officials described the raid as the culmination of months of intelligence-gathering and rehearsals. A small team tracked Maduro’s routines and locations, and elite units trained using a full-scale replica of a Caracas safe house to rehearse entry routes. The plan—dubbed “Operation Absolute Resolve”—was tightly held and, according to the U.S. account, was not shared in advance with Congress.
Late Friday night U.S. time, and only moments before midnight in Caracas, authorization was granted to initiate the mission, an approval intended to heighten surprise and exploit the cover of night. Senior military officials reported that the operation, which blended actions by air, land, and sea, unfolded over a little more than two hours.
Maduro and his wife were subsequently taken to New York to confront charges tied to drug trafficking and weapons, accusations he had previously denied. From Washington, President Donald Trump stated that the United States would take “temporary” control to supervise a transition and handle Venezuela’s oil resources until a permanent successor is in place, a declaration that heightened political friction within Venezuela and unsettled governments throughout the region.
Global responses emerged quickly, as Brazil’s leadership cautioned that the forceful takeover posed a “dangerous precedent” for the international community, prompting growing demands for rapid deliberations within multilateral forums.
Outside Venezuela, Venezuelans abroad celebrated in cities where they have resettled after years of mass migration. Still, even among those who welcomed Maduro’s arrest, a sober message prevailed: the operation may mark a turning point, but it does not guarantee immediate stability. The central question—inside Venezuela and across its diaspora—remains what happens next, and who will hold real power on the ground.
