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Updated 5 January 2026 - US officials defend military operation as regional allies condemn the move.
Trump issues stark warning to Venezuela's incoming leader
Former US President Donald Trump has cautioned Venezuela's newly appointed leader, Delcy Rodríguez, that she could face harsher repercussions than her predecessor, Nicolás Maduro, if she fails to align with US demands. Speaking to The Atlantic, Trump stated, "If she doesn't do what's right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro."
Rodríguez, who previously served as Maduro's vice president, assumed the presidency on Monday after receiving backing from Venezuela's Supreme Court and military. Her inauguration in Caracas at 08:00 local time (12:00 GMT) followed a conciliatory address to her cabinet on Sunday, where she extended an olive branch to the US. "We invite the US government to collaborate with us on an agenda of cooperation oriented toward shared development within the framework of international law," she said.
Maduro faces US court on drug and weapons charges
Maduro, who has led Venezuela since 2013, was captured in a US special forces operation early Saturday and flown to New York. He is set to appear in court on Monday to face charges of drug trafficking and weapons offenses. The US accuses him of presiding over a "narco-terrorist" regime, allegations he has consistently denied.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the operation, insisting it was not an act of war against Venezuela but rather a targeted effort against drug trafficking organizations. "We are at war against drug trafficking organizations. That's not a war against Venezuela," Rubio told NBC's Meet the Press. He added that the US would retain "multiple levers of leverage," including economic sanctions on Venezuela's oil sector, to protect its interests.
Regional and domestic backlash over US military action
Trump's remarks and the US operation have drawn sharp criticism from both domestic and international quarters. Several Democratic lawmakers, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, condemned the military action as an "act of war" conducted without congressional approval. Jeffries described the operation as involving "Delta Force, the army, thousands of troops, and dozens of ships off the coast of Venezuela."
Schumer questioned the legality of the operation, stating, "You don't treat lawlessness with other lawlessness." He warned that such interventions often result in costly consequences for the US, both in lives and resources. Both lawmakers pledged to support a resolution requiring congressional approval for any further US actions in Venezuela.
A joint statement from the governments of Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay, and Spain labeled the US military actions as "an extremely dangerous precedent for peace and regional security," warning of risks to civilian populations.
Cuba mourns losses as Venezuela's military reports casualties
The Cuban government announced two days of national mourning after reporting that 32 Cuban nationals died during the US operation to capture Maduro. Cuba, a long-standing ally of Venezuela's socialist government, condemned the raid as an aggressive act. Meanwhile, Venezuela's Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino claimed that a "large part" of Maduro's security detail, along with soldiers and civilians, were killed in the attack. US officials, however, stated that no American troops were harmed.
Trump threatens Colombia, vows US control over Venezuela's oil
In remarks to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump escalated tensions with Venezuela's neighbor, Colombia, calling President Gustavo Petro "a sick man" and suggesting military action against the country was possible. "Colombia is very sick, too, run by a sick man, who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States, and he's not going to be doing it very long," Trump said.
Trump also outlined plans for US oil companies to enter Venezuela, promising to "fix infrastructure and start making money for the country." Despite these claims, Maduro's allies remain in power, and the political future of Venezuela remains uncertain.
US officials defend operation as law enforcement action
Rubio dismissed concerns about the lack of congressional notification, arguing that the operation was a "law enforcement" action rather than an invasion. "You can't notify Congress of an operation like this because it will leak," he told ABC. When asked whether the US recognizes Rodríguez as Venezuela's legitimate president, Rubio responded that the US does not recognize the regime as legitimate, framing the issue as unrelated to the question of leadership.
"This was not simply a narcotics operation. It was an act of war."
Hakeem Jeffries, House Minority Leader
