Friday World January 7, 2026
As millions of Americans awoke on the first Saturday of the new year 2026, a shocking question dominated headlines and conversations: Are we at war with Venezuela?
In a bold and unprecedented military operation on January 3, 2026, U.S. special forces raided Caracas, capturing Venezuelan President **Nicolás Maduro** and his wife Cilia Flores. Transported to New York City, Maduro now faces federal charges of narcoterrorism, drug trafficking, and weapons conspiracy in a Manhattan courtroom. President Donald Trump hailed the raid as a "brilliant" success, declaring that the United States would temporarily "run" Venezuela until a "safe transition" could be achieved. This move has revived painful memories of America's long history of interventions in Latin America, where disliked leaders were toppled to install U.S.-friendly regimes.
The Operation: A Daring Raid with Far-Reaching Consequences Codenamed Operation Absolute Resolve, the assault began in the early hours with airstrikes targeting military infrastructure in northern Venezuela, including Fort Tiuna.
Elite Delta Force units stormed Maduro's residence, extracting him and his wife amid explosions and resistance. Reports indicate at least 40-80 deaths, including Cuban personnel aiding Venezuelan forces, while the U.S. suffered seven injured service members with no fatalities.
→ Trump announced the capture on Truth Social, sharing images of a handcuffed Maduro aboard the USS Iwo Jima. He justified the action as law enforcement to apprehend a "narcoterrorist" threatening American security through drug trafficking.
→ Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth compared it to historic moments under Lincoln and Roosevelt, while Trump boasted it would secure access to Venezuela's vast oil reserves—the world's largest known deposits.
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as interim leader, denouncing the raid as "illegitimate military aggression" and "kidnapping." Maduro, pleading not guilty in court, insisted he remains Venezuela's legitimate president.
Echoes of the Past: Monroe Doctrine Revival? This intervention starkly recalls America's "backyard" policy in Latin America. From the 19th-century interventions in Cuba and Panama to CIA-backed coups in Guatemala (1954), Chile (1973), and the 1989 invasion of Panama to capture Manuel Noriega, the U.S. has repeatedly removed leaders deemed hostile.
→ Trump's Mar-a-Lago press conference, celebrating the capture, mirrored George W. Bush's "Mission Accomplished" moment in Iraq 2003.
→ Analysts note the explicit oil motive: Trump has stated U.S. companies will "reclaim" Venezuelan oil, with plans for indefinite control over sales and shipments worth billions.
Middle East Eye described the capture of a sitting foreign president as "shocking," equating it to an act of war under international norms. Pars Today echoed this, calling it a violation that risks escalating into broader conflict.
Domestic Backlash: Congress Divided, Public Skeptical Democrats erupted in fury, arguing the operation required congressional approval under the War Powers Resolution. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer warned it risks "pulling our nation into another war" without authorization.
→ Republicans largely supported Trump, with some praising it as a triumph against a "dictator."
→ Polls show most Americans oppose military intervention in Venezuela, with even some Trump supporters feeling betrayed, expecting an end to "endless wars" after Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya.
The experiences of those conflicts highlight the risks: hasty regime change often leads to chaos, power vacuums, and prolonged instability.
Global Repercussions: A Warning to the World?
Internationally, the UN Security Council convened amid condemnation from Russia, China, Iran, and several Latin American nations. Allies like France criticized the breach of sovereignty.
→ Trump threatened further strikes if resistance persists, and hinted at actions against non-cooperative neighbors like Colombia.
→ The move signals U.S. intent to reassert dominance in the Western Hemisphere, potentially deterring other adversaries like Iran.
Venezuela now faces uncertainty: Will Rodríguez's interim government cooperate with Washington? Will oil flow freely to U.S. interests? Or will resistance spark prolonged conflict?
This audacious capture revives the ghosts of America's interventionist past. While framed as justice against a drug kingpin, the oil ambitions and unilateral action suggest a return to the Monroe Doctrine's imperial mindset.
The world watches: Is this the dawn of a new era of U.S. dominance in its "backyard," or the spark for renewed regional turmoil?
Only time will reveal whether this bold stroke brings stability—or repeats the costly mistakes of history.
Sajjadali Nayani ✍
Friday World January 7, 2026
