US President Donald Trump has said the United States will take charge of Venezuela following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, declaring that Washington will oversee the country until a political transition is completed.
Trump made the remarks on Saturday while addressing reporters, hours after US forces carried out military operations in Caracas that led to Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, being taken into American custody. He said the US would “run the country” until a “safe, proper and judicious transition” of power is achieved.
According to Trump, the intervention was aimed at restoring stability and justice in Venezuela. He accused Maduro of links to drug trafficking and said the Venezuelan leader would face federal charges in New York. US officials said the charges stem from a long-standing narcoterrorism indictment.
The US president also said American oil companies would be allowed to enter Venezuela to repair and modernise its oil infrastructure, arguing that the move would help revive the country’s economy. Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves.
The announcement has sparked widespread criticism at home and abroad. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the action sets a “dangerous precedent” and urged respect for international law. Several world leaders and human rights experts also condemned the move as a violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty.
Venezuela’s government rejected Trump’s claims, insisting that Nicolás Maduro remains the country’s legitimate president and demanding his immediate release. Officials in Caracas described the US action as an act of aggression and said Venezuela’s independence is not open to negotiation.
It remains unclear how long the United States intends to remain in control of Venezuela or how the proposed transition would be managed, as questions continue to mount over the legality and regional consequences of Washington’s decision.
