Friday World – January 6, 2026
The year 2026 began amid intense global tensions. On January 3, 2026, the United States launched a large-scale military operation against Venezuela, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in a dramatic raid. This event coincided with Russia's recent demonstration of its nuclear might, as President Vladimir Putin announced the successful test of the Poseidon nuclear-powered underwater drone (torpedo) in late October 2025. The announcement, though from late 2025, amplified strategic signaling in early 2026.
Venezuela Crisis: Trump's 'Oil Grab' and Maduro's Abduction** On January 3, 2026, U.S. forces conducted a pre-dawn assault on Caracas and key military sites, including strikes that caused power outages and explosions at locations like La Carlota airbase and Fuerte Tiuna. U.S. Special Forces captured Maduro and his wife from a safe house, flying them out of the country to New York, where they face charges of drug trafficking and narco-terrorism. President Trump described the operation as a "massive joint military and law enforcement raid" to combat drug flows and gangs like Tren de Aragua. He openly stated the U.S. would "run" Venezuela temporarily to restore order and secure its vast oil resources for American companies.
Venezuela's interim leadership, with Vice President Delcy Rodríguez stepping in, condemned the action as an "illegal aggression" and violation of sovereignty. Supporters of Maduro staged protests, while critics hailed it as the end of his regime. The operation drew sharp international backlash: Russia, China, Cuba, Mexico, and others called it imperialism, while some Latin American allies backed the U.S. The strikes killed dozens (estimates vary from 40 to 80+), disrupted daily life in Caracas, and raised fears of further instability in Latin America.
Russia's Nuclear Display: Poseidon – The 'Unstoppable' Doomsday Torpedo** In the midst of this crisis, Russia highlighted its advanced weaponry. On October 28-29, 2025, Putin announced during a meeting with wounded Ukraine war soldiers that Russia had successfully tested the Poseidon (Status-6 or 2M39) nuclear-powered autonomous underwater vehicle. For the first time, it was launched from a submarine, with its nuclear reactor activated mid-mission.
Putin called it "a huge success," claiming Poseidon's destructive power surpasses even the Sarmat (Satan-2) ICBM. This weapon is designed as a retaliatory "second-strike" system, evading missile defenses.
→ Key Features of Poseidon:
→ Length: ~20 meters, weight: 100 tons
→ Range: Over 10,000 km (potentially unlimited due to nuclear propulsion)
→ Speed: Up to 200 km/h, depth: >1,000 meters
→ Warhead: Nuclear, 2 to 100 megatons, capable of creating radioactive tsunamis to devastate coastal cities
→ Purpose: Bypass defenses, loiter as a drone, and deliver massive coastal destruction
→ Putin linked it to U.S. withdrawal from the 1972 ABM Treaty, missile defense buildup, and NATO expansion.
Burevestnik Followed by Poseidon: Russia's Double Blow Just days earlier (October 21, 2025), Russia tested the **Burevestnik** (SSC-X-9 Skyfall) nuclear-powered cruise missile, which flew 14,000 km over 15 hours. Putin hailed it as unique and unstoppable. These tests occurred near the end of the New START treaty (expiring February 2026), raising questions about nuclear arms control.
→ Trump dismissed them as "inappropriate," urging Putin to focus on Ukraine peace instead.
→ Global Implications: Is a New Arms Race Beginning?** The timing of the U.S. strike on Venezuela and Russia's nuclear flex is no coincidence. Putin framed these as responses to Western pressure, while Trump called Russia a "paper tiger." These events signal a new era of heightened nuclear tension in 2026:
→ End of New START: Without renewal, unlimited buildup possible
→ New Deterrence Era: Poseidon and Burevestnik ensure "second-strike" survivability → Rising Instability: Regional conflicts like Venezuela now intertwined with nuclear posturing, heightening risks of escalation
→ This period echoes the Cold War, but in a modern form. Putin's message is clear: Russia will not yield under pressure, regardless of Trump's actions. The world watches anxiously for the next move.
Sajjadali Nayani ✍
Friday World – January 6, 2026
