Drugs, oil, illegal immigration: Why Donald Trump ordered Venezuela strikes; what we know so far

The United States carried out pre-dawn airstrikes across Venezuela on Saturday, with at least seven explosions and low-flying aircraft reported over the capital, Caracas. The attacks, which killed at least 40 people, prompted the Venezuelan government to declare a national emergency and deploy its armed forces, calling for mass mobilisation. Hours later, US President Donald Trump announced that American forces had captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, flown them out of the country, and placed them in US custody.

Trump later posted an image on his Truth Social platform showing a blindfolded Maduro aboard a US warship, captioned: “Nicolas Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima.”




The US justice department said Maduro and Flores will face trial in New York after a fresh indictment issued on Saturday accused them of involvement in narco-terrorism, The Guardian reported. US Attorney General Pam Bondi said the couple had been charged with drug- and weapons-related offences.

At least seven explosions and low-flying aircraft were reported over Caracas, including near military bases, BBC News and AP said. Venezuelan authorities accused the US of striking civilian and military installations and urged citizens to take to the streets.

Calling it the most direct US military action in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama, The Guardian noted the operation stunned the international community. Despite Trump’s claim that the US would decide Venezuela’s future, Venezuelan state television continued broadcasting pro-government messages, while the military appeared to retain control over key installations.

Speaking at a Mar-a-Lago news conference, US President Donald Trump said the US would temporarily govern Venezuela. “We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” he said, adding that American oil companies would move into the country. Trump boasted that “no nation in the world could achieve what America achieved", AP reported.

Also read: First video shows Nicolás Maduro in US custody; wishes agents ‘happy new year’ at DEA office

Why did the US attack and capture Maduro?

The strikes and capture followed months of an aggressive US pressure campaign mounted on Venezuela's Maduro after US President Donald Trump took office for a second term.

According to the BBC News, Trump has repeatedly accused Maduro of fueling illegal immigration into the US and being responsible for the movement of drugs including fentanyl and cocaine into American cities, claims experts have said lack public evidence. Trump has portrayed Venezuela’s government as illegitimate and blamed it for destabilising the region.

The US designated Venezuelan gangs such as Tren de Aragua and Cartel de los Soles as terrorist organisations and alleged that the latter was led by Maduro himself. Washington had earlier announced a $50 million bounty for information leading to Maduro’s arrest.

Over recent months, US forces carried out more than two dozen strikes in international waters on boats alleged to be carrying drugs.

Relations between the two countries have been strained since Hugo Chávez came to power in 1999 and worsened after Maduro succeeded him in 2013. The US stopped recognising Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate leader in 2019 and backed the opposition. After Venezuela’s disputed 2024 election, which independent experts said the opposition won, Maduro remained in power following a crackdown.

Trump has openly spoken about regime change and access to resources. Following Maduro’s capture, he invoked the Monroe Doctrine — which he dubbed the “Don-Roe doctrine” — declaring: “American dominance in the western hemisphere will never be questioned again.”

The legality of the operation has been questioned, with Congress not having authorised the use of force, AP reported. Venezuela’s Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez demanded Maduro’s release, insisting on state television: “There is only one president in Venezuela, and his name is Nicolás Maduro Moros.”