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 cautiously returned to the streets, reactions split sharply. Some Venezuelans expressed hope that Maduro’s removal could open a path toward change after years of repression and crisis, while others condemned the operation and rallied to demand his release, calling the arrest an abduction and denouncing a breach of national sovereignty.
Despite the pockets of celebration, uncertainty dominated many conversations. Several people said they feared retaliation and instability in the days ahead, pointing to the continued presence of pro-government armed groups known as “colectivos,” whom residents reported seeing moving through neighborhoods on motorcycles with weapons. The atmosphere has been further shaped by a recently approved law by the government-controlled National Assembly that labels support for U.S. naval blockades as “treason,” heightening the perceived risks of speaking out.
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.
Outside Venezuela, Venezuelans abroad celebrated in cities where they have resettled after years of mass migration. Still, even among those who welcomed Maduro’s arrest, a sober message prevailed: the operation may mark a turning point, but it does not guarantee immediate stability. The central question—inside Venezuela and across its diaspora—remains what happens next, and who will hold real power on the ground.
