Venezuela awoke Saturday to an uneasy blend of reassurance, jubilation, and dread after U.S. forces took President Nicolás Maduro into custody in the aftermath of a night marked by blasts and precision assaults throughout the Caracas Valley.
As residents slowly made their way back outside, reactions diverged dramatically, with some Venezuelans voicing cautious optimism that Maduro’s ouster might create a chance for long‑awaited change after years of turmoil and repression, while others denounced the operation, gathered to demand his freedom, branded the detention as a kidnapping, and accused the authorities of violating national sovereignty.
Despite a few scattered moments of celebration, a sense of uncertainty permeated many conversations. Several individuals noted that they worried about potential retaliation and growing instability in the coming days, highlighting the ongoing activity of pro-government armed groups known as “colectivos,” which residents described seeing riding through neighborhoods on motorcycles while carrying weapons. The atmosphere was also influenced by a newly approved law from the government-controlled National Assembly that classifies any support for U.S. naval blockades as “treason,” intensifying the perceived dangers of speaking publicly.
U.S. officials portrayed the raid as the endpoint of months spent gathering intelligence and running practice drills, during which a small team monitored Maduro’s habits and movements while elite units prepared on a full-scale replica of a Caracas safe house to refine their entry paths; the operation, known as “Operation Absolute Resolve,” remained closely guarded and, per the U.S. narrative, was not disclosed to Congress beforehand.
Late Friday night U.S. time, and only moments before midnight in Caracas, authorization was granted to initiate the mission, an approval intended to heighten surprise and exploit the cover of night. Senior military officials reported that the operation, which blended actions by air, land, and sea, unfolded over a little more than two hours.
Maduro and his wife were subsequently taken to New York to confront charges tied to drug trafficking and weapons, accusations he had previously denied. From Washington, President Donald Trump stated that the United States would take “temporary” control to supervise a transition and handle Venezuela’s oil resources until a permanent successor is in place, a declaration that heightened political friction within Venezuela and unsettled governments throughout the region.
International reactions were swift. Brazil’s leadership warned the violent capture set a “dangerous precedent” for the international community, and calls grew for urgent discussions in multilateral forums.
Venezuelans living outside Venezuela marked the moment across the cities where they have resettled after years of large‑scale migration, yet even among those who approved of Maduro’s arrest, a measured tone dominated: the action may signal a pivotal shift, but it offers no assurance of swift stability. The key question—both within Venezuela and throughout its diaspora—continues to be what comes next and who will ultimately wield real authority on the ground.
