When U.S. forces carried out a large-scale military operation in Caracas on January 3, 2026âcapturing President NicolĂĄs Maduro and transporting him to New York to face U.S. indictmentsâWashington framed the moment as resolution. President Donald Trump declared Venezuelaâs long crisis effectively over, announcing that the United States would ârunâ the country for a period of time and openly discussing the reinstallation of U.S. oil interests. The language was casual, almost improvisational, as if Venezuela were an unruly subsidiary finally brought to heel.
