Handout photo released by the Miraflores presidential palace press office showing Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro (R) accompanied by his wife Cilia Flores. Photo: Miraflores
US President Donald Trump said Saturday that US forces had captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro after launching a "large scale strike" on the South American country.
"The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country," Trump said on Truth Social.
"This operation was done in conjunction with US Law Enforcement."
Trump added that he would give a news conference at 11.00am (5am NZT) at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, where he is nearing the end of a two-week Christmas and New Year's vacation.
In a brief phone interview with The New York Times, Trump hailed the "brilliant" operation.
"A lot of good planning and lot of great, great troops and great people," the paper quoted Trump as saying.
This combination of pictures created on August 08, 2025 shows Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro (L) in Caracas on January 10, 2025, and US President Donald Trump (R) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on July 15, 2025. Powerful explosions, resembling aircraft flyovers, were heard blasting in Caracas on January 3, 2026 at around 2:00 am (0600 GMT), an AFP journalist reported. The sounds of explosions come as US President Donald Trump, who has deployed a large navy armada in the Caribbean with a stated mission of combatting drug trafficking, raised the possibility of ground strikes against Venezuela. Photo: JUAN BARRETO / AFP
US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who was captured by US special forces early Saturday, will "finally face justice for his crimes".
Spain called for de-escalation, moderation and respect for international law, the Spanish Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday.
Germany's foreign ministry on Saturday said it was watching the situation in Venezuela with great concern and a crisis team was to meet later for further discussion.
A written communication obtained by Reuters said the ministry was in close contact with the embassy in Caracas and a crisis team would meet later on Saturday.
Reuters reported a US senator as saying Maduro would stand trial on criminal charges in the US.
Photo: LUIS JAIMES
Capture follows months of pressure
Trump's stunning announcement follows months of steadily mounting US military and economic pressure on leftist leader Maduro and his country's oil-export-dependent economy.
The US president said in December "it would be smart for [Maduro]" to step down and has also said that the Venezuelan leader's "days are numbered."
Trump's claim of Maduro's capture comes two days after Maduro attempted to engage with Trump, offering cooperation on fighting drug trafficking and illegal migration.
Trump has given differing arguments for his campaign against Venezuela, including the claim that the country is a major drug exporter to the United States and that Venezuela seized US oil interests.
The Republican leader has not explicitly called for Maduro's ouster but the US government, along with many European nations, does not recognize the Venezuelan leader's legitimacy.
A huge naval and aerial presence has been established in the Caribbean, including the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford and other warships.
US forces have seized two tankers at sea as part of an oil blockade on Venezuela and killed more than 100 people in aerial strikes to destroy small boats accused of drug trafficking.
Trump told reporters on Monday that the United States had hit and destroyed a docking area for alleged Venezuelan drug boats, in what was the first known strike on Venezuelan soil of the campaign.
Venezuela says it rejects "military aggression" by the US
Venezuela rejects "military aggression" by the United States, the government of President Nicolas Maduro said in a statement early Saturday local time.
It later demanded "proof of life" of Maduro and his wife from the US.
Russia was deeply worried and condemned the US "act of armed aggression" against Venezuela, the foreign ministry said.
- AFP, with RNZ/CNN/Reuters
