Hey amigos! Big news shook Latin America this weekend: after a bold US operation captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, the United States says it will run Venezuela until a "safe, proper and judicious transition." 😲
How It Happened
According to US officials, intelligence agents had been tailing Maduro since August. Months of planning led to a surprise operation announced by President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago: "We're going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition." Senior officials like Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will lead a transition team. 🇻🇪🤝🇺🇸
More Military Moves? 🤔
Trump didn't rule out further action. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine says US forces will stay ready in the region after large-scale strikes and Maduro's capture. Analysts see this as a return to the Monroe Doctrine, reasserting US dominance in its backyard. 🔥
Oil Takes Center Stage 🛢️
Venezuela has the world's largest proven oil reserves—over 300 billion barrels in the Orinoco belt. Trump authorized US oil companies to step in, though the oil embargo stays in place. Energy experts say control of oil infrastructure is key to Washington's strategy and regional influence. 🌎💡
What's Next? ⚠️
Experts warn of a power vacuum. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has been ordered by the Supreme Court to step in, while the US won't recognize her or Maduro. The opposition backs exiled politician Edmundo González. Organizing elections, rebuilding political structures, and avoiding civil conflict will be huge challenges. 🗳️
Global Reactions
The UN called for respect of international law. The Chinese mainland's Foreign Ministry said it's deeply shocked and strongly opposed to the US military action, warning it threatens peace in Latin America and the Caribbean. European leaders urged de-escalation and dialogue. 🌐✌️
Stay tuned as this story unfolds—Latin America might never be the same. 💥
Reference(s):
U.S. says it will run Venezuela after capture of Maduro. What's next?
cgtn.com
