Trump Invades Venezuela, Ousts Maduro, Lays Claim On Oil

In what is reminiscent of George H. W. Bush’s action of mid-December 1989 by the ousting of General Manuel Noriega of Panama, Mr Donald Trump, the 47th President of the United States of America, pulled practically the same stunt on President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela , capturing him and his wife and whisking them out of Venezuela to the United States. US officials say both will face narco-terrorism charges in the States. History repeats itself as Trump invades Venezuela.

After the initial panic, armed pro-Maduro groups were seen patrolling the streets of Caracas, in obvious solidarity with their captured leader and unhappy that Trump invaded Venezuela. This is in contrast to the scenes of jubilation and celebrations by Venezuelan exiles in Spain and other places. Many were seen and pictured chanting freedom slogans and waving flags. They claim the ousting of Maduro marks the end of dictatorship, drug trafficking and repression.

It is the same picture of contrasts elsewhere with Antonio Guterres, the United Nations, Secretary General condemning American actions as Trump invades Venezuela, a “dangerous precedent” while the Argentinian President, Javier Meiles described the news of Maduro’s capture as an “excellent news”.

Announcing Maduro’s capture, Trump tweeted, “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. This operation was done in conjunction with US Law Enforcement”. He has since made statements to the effect that the United States will run Venezuela until the next elections and US companies will be going in to operate the Venezuelan oil industry.

The Brazilian President Lula da Silva has condemned the United States action describing it as crossing “an unacceptable line” in acceptable international relations. Several British lawmakers including party member Zarah Sultana labelled the Venezuelan invasion and Maduro’s capture as a “blatant U.S. imperialism: an unlawful strike on Caracas” aimed at toppling a sovereign government and exploiting its resources”. She urged the Keir Starmer Labour government to condemn the action. However, the UK Prime Minister had no strong words as Trump invades Venezuela. In an interview, he refused to be drawn into condemning the U.S. action, he only confirmed that his country was not involved in the action and that he had not spoken to Trump about it. Nevertheless, on X, he posted about the incident and Maduro, that the UK, “regarded as an illegitimate president and we shed no tears about the end of his regime”.

Meanwhile, photographs of Maduro in cuffs and videos of him taking the perp walk had been released by the U.S. authorities who had previously alleged him of drug trafficking and money laundering, which was the reason put forward as Trump invades Venezuela.

Maduro who started as a bus driver, rose to become a trade union leader being elected to the National Assembly in 2000. He was eventually appointed to a number of positions under Hugo Chavez serving as President of the National Assembly, Minister of Foreign Affairs and as Vice President before assuming the presidency after Chavez’s death.

Maduro’s popularity began to decline in 2014 when shortages and a decrease in living standards led to a wave of daily protests. Maduro responded with repression of dissent and the people elected an opposition-led National Assembly in 2015. The National Assembly tried to recall Maduro in 2016 but the move was cancelled by Maduro. He used the Supreme Tribunal to strip the National Assembly of power and authority resulting in a constitutional crisis and another wave of protests in 2017. He then called for a rewrite of the constitution and the Constituent Assembly was elected in 2017 under voting conditions many considered irregular. In 2018, he was reelected and sworn in with widespread condemnation, he dragged Venezuela into a presidential crisis that spanned nearly four years before running for the third term and claiming a victory – without providing evidence, starting another political crisis. In 2025, he was designated as a member of a foreign terrorist organization by the United States.

Maduro’s government was widely considered to be authoritarian with more than 20,000 people believed to have been subjected to extrajudicial killings and seven million Venezuelans forced to flee the country.

Reactions continue to in as at press time with China and North Korea issuing strong warnings.