Trump's Atack on Venezuela

On January 3^rd of 2026, the United States launched a military strike against Venezuela, targeting strategic areas inside of Caracas and all of its surrounding metropolitan areas. There were many explosions that were reported inside the city of Caracas and the military bases that are nearby. Very shortly after the attack, the US President Donald Trump confirmed that the Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were captured and flown out of the country to be taken to the United States, to face many federal charges.  

Trump described the operation as a “large-scale strike” and said the U.S. would temporarily “run Venezuela” until a safe transition to a new government could be happen. 

Oil Seizures and the Economic Control 

Since the military action, the US forces have been involved in taking hold of the Venezuelan oil tankers, and at least 7 of them have been intercepted in the Caribbean. The Trump administration says that these seizures have occured to control the oil production in Venezuela and to cut off the financing for all of the criminals that are in boats and carry drugs that enter the US.  

Trump also reported that the U.S. has taken and refined millions of barrels of Venezuelan oil which it then plans to sell or use the revenue for reconstruction and to profit the US energy companies. Trump and his administration made clear that the access to Venezuelan oil was a main reason for the action. The United States announced a 50-million-barrel oil supply deal with the remaining government in Venezuela, with the first $300 million already received on 20 January. 

The Venezuelan government has been opposed to this attack. The Minister of the Popular Power for Interior, Justice, and Peace in Venezuela, Diosdado Cabello, has called this attack a ‘’very serious military attack and a violation of their rights as a country’’. 

Bigger Military Campaign 

The military action against Venezuela is an element of a larger naval and air campaign which the US has been running since 2025 that also included strikes on what they called drug boats that had ‘’narco-terrorist’’ groups inside them. The strikes which killed many civilians in Venezuela and at least 23 security officers, have left many people across the world with many doubts of what will happen next and the humanitarian impact that this has left on Venezuela. 

Domestic and International Reactions 

The Trump Administration has said that it was a big and successful operation, which is a very important move against Maduro, his wife and the drugs that have been entering the United States. However, many people and leaders around the world (particularly in Central and South America) have said that the strikes have gone against the International law and that the attack was not approved by the congress in the USA. 

Latin America’s Response 

Many people in the region have condemned the military action. For example, Mexico is reported to reconsider or even stop their oil shipments to Cuba because of a fear that the US might take their oil. Also, in Venezuela the citizens have come out to support their country and push back against what they see as US presence over their land. Colombia, Brazil and Nicaragua were also countries that were against the attack. 

Humanitarian and Legal Concerns 

The Venezuelan government, including Diosdado Cabello (Minister of the Popular Power for Interior Justice, and Peace of Venezuela) and Delcy Rodriguez (the current president of Venezuela after the capture) called the attack a grave military aggression, a kidnapping and a violation of the United Nations Rules. The opposition leaders, parties, and organizations have showed big concerns about the sovereignty violations of Venezuela and if the use of military force without a UN or the US congress support can be done.  

Many humanitarian observers worry about the bigger effects of a military escalation, including the civilian losses and the instability this can create in the future. 

Bibliography: 

Falk, Richard. “The US Attack on Venezuela and the Collapse of International Law.” Al Jazeera, 21 Jan. 2026, www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2026/1/21/the-us-attack-on-venezuela-and-the-collapse-of-international-law. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026. 

MADEO. “Tracking Global Responses to US Aggression in Venezuela.” American Friends Service Committee, 2026, afsc.org/newsroom/tracking-global-responses-us-aggression-venezuela. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026. 

Keenan, Claire. “World Leaders React to US Capture of Venezuelan Leader Nicolás Maduro.” Bbc.com, BBC News, 4 Jan. 2026, www.bbc.com/news/articles/czx1rpxzyx9o. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026. 

“US Accused of Seizing Venezuela’s Oil as Maduro Captured in Attacks.” S&P Global Energy, 2026, www.spglobal.com/energy/en/news-research/latest-news/crude-oil/010326-us-accused-of-seizing-venezuelas-oil-as-maduro-seized-in-attacks. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026. 

“UN Experts Condemn US Aggression against Venezuela.” OHCHR, 2025, www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/01/un-experts-condemn-us-aggression-against-venezuela. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026.