In a statement posted in the early hours of Saturday, Jan. 3, Mr. Trump said American forces had carried out what he described as a decisive operation in and around Caracas, asserting that Mr. Maduro and Ms. Flores were taken into custody and flown out of the country. Mr. Trump did not specify which U.S. agencies were involved or where Mr. Maduro was being held.

There was no immediate confirmation from the White House, the Pentagon, or the State Department. As of early Saturday, U.S. officials declined to comment, and no formal announcement had been issued by the Biden administration or military leadership.

Reports of explosions in Caracas circulated on social media shortly before 2 a.m. local time. Journalists from CNN reported hearing multiple blasts and observing power outages in parts of the capital, though the cause and scope of the incidents remained unclear.

Venezuela’s vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, said in a televised address that the government had not been able to confirm the whereabouts of Mr. Maduro or Ms. Flores. She accused the United States of what she called a “criminal military aggression” and said Venezuela had placed its armed forces on high alert. Her claims could not be independently verified.

In Washington, Senator Mike Lee, Republican of Utah, said he had been briefed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who told him that Mr. Maduro had been detained under longstanding U.S. criminal indictments. Senator Lee said the operation was intended to enforce an arrest warrant and ensure the safety of U.S. personnel involved.

Mr. Maduro has been indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice since 2020 on charges including narcotrafficking, narco-terrorism, and conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States. U.S. prosecutors have accused him of leading the so-called Cartel of the Suns, allegations Mr. Maduro has repeatedly denied, calling them politically motivated.

For years, the U.S. government has offered millions of dollars in rewards for information leading to Mr. Maduro’s arrest. Until now, the charges had not been enforced through direct military action.

Legal experts said any U.S. military operation on Venezuelan soil would raise immediate constitutional questions, particularly in the absence of congressional authorization. Senator Lee himself has previously expressed concern over presidential war powers and the lack of a formal authorization for the use of military force.

Across Latin America, governments have historically opposed foreign military intervention in the region, and diplomatic reaction was expected to be swift. As of Saturday morning, Venezuelan state media had not acknowledged any detention of Mr. Maduro, and his location remained unknown.

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The deployment, which includes the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and accompanying warships and aircraft, has been described by the Pentagon as an effort to “detect, monitor and disrupt illicit actors and activities” in the region.

In Caracas, President Nicolás Maduro condemned the move as “an act of aggression” and placed Venezuela’s armed forces on high alert. In Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar expressed support for U.S. operations, calling the recent strike on a suspected drug vessel “necessary to secure regional waters.”

In contrast, several Caribbean governments have voiced concern about the scale and implications of the military build-up. Barbados Foreign Minister Kerrie Symmonds said the U.S. presence “must be carefully managed,” while Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne ruled out hosting any foreign military bases and called for regional consultations before any action affecting Caribbean security. Browne said counter-narcotics operations should proceed “under international law and in coordination with regional partners,” echoing CARICOM’s long-standing commitment to maintaining the Caribbean as a “zone of peace.”

The U.S. campaign began in August 2025 with naval deployments to the southern Caribbean and has since expanded to include air and maritime strikes on vessels suspected of smuggling narcotics from Venezuelan waters. According to U.S. officials, the operations are part of a broader “non-international armed conflict” against criminal networks labeled as “narco-terrorists.” The United States has acknowledged at least ten strikes since early September, resulting in dozens of deaths.

Legal analysts have warned that framing drug interdiction as a military conflict raises questions about sovereignty and the applicability of international law. Former Jamaica Prime Minister P. J. Patterson said the campaign “sets a dangerous precedent” and risks drawing the region into unnecessary confrontation.

CARICOM’s foreign ministers, led by Dr. Denzil Douglas of St. Kitts and Nevis, have formally requested dialogue with Washington and urged transparency about military movements in regional waters. Several governments, including Saint Lucia and Guyana, have said they are monitoring the situation closely but will align their positions with CARICOM’s collective approach.

The growing U.S. presence has also prompted concerns about maritime safety and diplomatic stability. Venezuela has increased troop deployments along its coast and borders, while neighboring states prepare for possible spillover effects.

The Pentagon has not specified how long the strike group will remain in the region. Caribbean governments continue to call for consultation, transparency, and adherence to international norms as the situation develops.

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One of the administration’s initial actions was the suspension of the CBP One application, a tool previously used by asylum seekers to schedule appointments at U.S. ports of entry. This move has left thousands of migrants in limbo, uncertain about their legal pathways into the United States.

Concurrently, the U.S. has initiated mass deportations, utilizing military aircraft to return migrants to their countries of origin. This approach has been met with resistance. Colombian President Gustavo Petro refused entry to two U.S. military flights carrying deported Colombians, citing concerns over the dignified treatment of migrants. In response, President Trump announced retaliatory measures, including a 25% tariff on Colombian imports and the suspension of visa services in Bogotá.

Mexico has also taken a stand, denying permission for a U.S. military plane carrying deported migrants to land. This decision reflects broader regional apprehension about the U.S.’s deportation tactics and their potential humanitarian implications.

In anticipation of increased deportations, Mexican border states are preparing shelters to accommodate returning migrants. Cities like Ciudad Juárez have erected structures to house deportees, while other border towns are undertaking similar initiatives to manage the expected influx. Brazil has condemned the deportation of 88 of its citizens from the U.S., citing reports of degrading treatment, including passengers being handcuffed during the flight. The deportees, initially bound for Belo Horizonte, were redirected to Manaus due to technical issues, where Brazilian officials intervened to remove the handcuffs. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva arranged for a Brazilian Air Force aircraft to complete their journey, emphasizing the need for humane treatment. Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has demanded explanations from the U.S., marking escalating tensions amid the recent wave of deportations across Latin America.

The aggressive deportation push has strained U.S. relations with its Latin American neighbors. Many leaders argue that the policy disregards the complexities of migration, including economic hardships and violence driving people to leave their home countries.

Experts predict that this diplomatic fallout could have lasting effects on U.S.-Latin American relations, particularly as countries like Colombia and Brazil reassess their economic and political ties with Washington.

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