What’s next for Maduro ‒ and Venezuela after Trump intervention?
Monday, 5 January 2026
After a lightning military raid, a 3300km journey via Guantanamo Bay and a perp walk through the Manhattan offices of the DEA, Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro is now under US lock and key.
Maduro and wife Cilia Flores were snatched from a supposed safe house by US commandos, supported by more than 150 bombers, fighters and reconnaissance aircraft as “almost all of the lights” of the South American country’s capital Caracas were dimmed.
The Venezuelan couple have been been charged with drugs and weapons charges, the BBC reported. Maduro has previously denied being the leader of a drug cartel.
The couple are expected to make their first court appearance possibly as soon as Monday.
“This was one of the most stunning, effective and powerful displays of American military might and competence in American history,' Trump said at a media conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
Now the US was going to run Venezuela until such time as “we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition', Trump said.
'We can't take a chance that somebody else takes over Venezuela and doesn't have the good of the Venezuelan people in mind.'
“We want peace, liberty and justice for the great people of Venezuela.”
Trump also revealed his plans to exploit the leadership void to “fix” the country’s oil infrastructure to start making money for the country and sell “large amounts” of oil to other countries.
But Venezuela’s vice president Delcy Rodríguez rejected Trump’s declaration, calling for Maduro's release.
“There is only one president in Venezuela, and his name is Nicolás Maduro Moros,' she said.
There has been a ratcheting up of aggression towards Venezuela since Trump was re-elected, from a $50 million bounty on Maduro's head to strikes on boats allegedly carrying drugs and most recently a blockade, according to The Times.
Supporters of Maduro have been rallying in the streets of Caracas, demanding the US release their leader. Caracas mayor Carmen Meléndez, a firm government loyalist, joined in the rally to protest against what she called Maduro's 'kidnapping'.
An emergency meeting of the UN Security Council has been called for Monday by Colombia with the support of Russia and China.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasised the need for the rule of law to be respected. 'These developments constitute a dangerous precedent,' a statement issued by a spokesperson for Guterres said. “He’s deeply concerned that the rules of international law have not been respected.”
Foreign Minister Winston Peters said in a statement on social media that New Zealand stood with the Venezuelan people “in their pursuit of a fair, democratic and prosperous future”.
He also said that New Zealand was actively monitoring developments and expected “all parties to act in accordance with international law”.
Otago University international relations Professor Robert Patman told RNZ the US move was audacious.
'It's a direct challenge for countries like New Zealand, which support the view that international relations should be based on rules, procedures and laws,' he told RNZ's Worldwatch.
Patman said while many would be pleased to see Maduro gone, that did not mean they would be happy the US '[violated] Venezuela's sovereignty'.
'I think it's time that we made our voice clear. Foreign policy in this country has been traditionally bipartisan. We have stood up for the rule of law internationally.'
University of Waikato international law Professor Al Gillespie told RNZ the “worst-case scenario” now was that the US attempted to run the country.
He said Venezuela should be handed over to an independent body such as the Organisation of American States or the United Nations.
'I think an ideal situation, if you were seriously concerned about the corrupt practices of that regime, is that you would call for an election.'