Trump Asserts US Authority Over Venezuela
President Donald Trump has declared that the United States is “in charge” of Venezuela following the transfer of the country’s longtime leader, Nicolas Maduro, to New York to face narcotrafficking charges that US prosecutors first announced in 2020.
Maduro, 63, was deposed during a dramatic US-led operation over the weekend. The action reportedly involved American commandos, air strikes, and a heavy naval presence off Venezuela’s coast. His wife was also detained and flown out of Caracas.
The development represents one of the most direct US interventions in Latin America in decades and has reignited debate over Washington’s influence in the region.
UN Security Council Meets Amid Global Alarm
Venezuela has requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, scheduled for Monday, to address what it describes as a violation of its sovereignty.
The session is expected to feature sharp criticism of the United States from countries that have historically backed Maduro’s government, including China and Russia, while raising broader concerns about international law and military intervention.
Despite the growing international backlash, Trump appeared unmoved.
“We’re in charge,” the US president said late Sunday.
Maduro’s Successor Signals Cooperation
Delcy Rodriguez, who assumed interim leadership following Maduro’s removal, softened her earlier rhetoric and offered to cooperate with Washington.
In a statement released late Sunday, Rodriguez said her government was open to working with the United States on a framework for cooperation.
Her remarks came hours after Trump warned that she would face severe consequences if she failed to comply with US demands.
US Focuses on Oil and Strategic Access
Trump made clear that Venezuela’s vast natural resources remain central to Washington’s interest.
“We need total access. We need access to the oil and other things in their country that allow us to rebuild their country,” he said.
Venezuela is home to the world’s largest proven oil reserves, although years of mismanagement, corruption, and US sanctions have sharply reduced production.
While US officials say there are no American troops currently operating inside Venezuela, a large US naval force, including an aircraft carrier, remains stationed offshore. Washington also continues to exert economic pressure through restrictions on Venezuelan oil exports.
White House Downplays Regime Change Claims
The Trump administration insists it is not pursuing full regime change but rather the removal of Maduro, who has ruled Venezuela since 2013 following the death of Hugo Chávez.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US would judge Venezuela’s new leadership based on its actions, not ideology, adding that Washington is not pushing for immediate democratic reforms or elections.
Opposition Figures Remain Marginalised
The US position has left Venezuela’s opposition divided and uncertain.
Opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia, who says he won Venezuela’s disputed 2024 presidential election, described the US intervention as significant but insufficient.
He said lasting change would require the release of political prisoners and international recognition of the election outcome.
International Condemnation Grows
China, Russia, and Iran swiftly condemned the US operation. China’s foreign ministry called for Maduro’s immediate release and described the action as a violation of international law.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro warned that the move threatens Latin American sovereignty and could deepen Venezuela’s humanitarian crisis, which has already driven millions of citizens to flee the country over the past decade.
Some US allies expressed concern, while others, including Italy and Israel, voiced support for Washington’s actions.
Uncertain Future for Venezuela
With Maduro in US custody, an interim leadership seeking accommodation with Washington, and American naval forces positioned nearby, Venezuela’s political future remains unclear.
What is certain is that the crisis has refocused global attention on Venezuela’s oil wealth and the enduring tension between US power and sovereignty in Latin America.
