On the evening of Jan. 5, gunfire was heard near the presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela. This happened just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he personally would be running the South American country after Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was captured.
Recorded footage displayed drones and what seemed to be anti-aircraft fire in the night sky near Miraflores Palace. The Ministry of Communication in Venezuela confirmed that police officers shot at drones that were not authorized to be in the area. The ministry also reassured that no confrontation took place and the country remained peaceful.
The White House informed journalists that it had no involvement in the incident that took place on Monday night near the palace. Internal discussions between security forces suggested a misunderstanding, as evidenced by one member’s description after shots were fired.
The gunfire occurred after a large-scale U.S. military operation, known as Operation Absolute Resolve, led to the capture of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. This operation, which involved over 150 aircraft from 20 airbases, resulted in injuries among U.S. service members, although Trump reassured that they were all in good condition.
Maduro and Flores were taken from their bedroom during the early morning raid and were transported to New York to face federal charges. Maduro pleaded not guilty when he appeared in a federal court on Jan. 5. He is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
Following Maduro’s capture, Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as acting president on Jan. 5. Rodríguez, who previously served as Maduro’s vice president, has stated her intention to cooperate with Washington. Her swearing-in occurred during a rapidly changing political climate.
When asked about his vision for Venezuela’s immediate future, Trump stated that he would be the one in charge. He further explained that the U.S. would oversee Venezuela until a safe and proper transition can be arranged. However, he did not provide many details about how or when this transition would take place. Trump stated that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, and White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller would guide U.S. involvement.
A main aspect of Trump’s plan for Venezuela involves American control of the nation’s oil sector. From Mar-a-Lago, Trump announced that U.S. oil companies would repair the country’s deteriorating infrastructure and start turning a profit for the nation.
“We’re going to have our very large United States oil companies, the biggest anywhere in the world, to go in, spend billions of dollars to fix the badly broken infrastructure, the oil infrastructure, and start making money for the country,” Trump stated.
Venezuela has approximately 303 billion barrels of oil reserves, making it one of the richest countries in terms of resources. However, due to decades of underinvestment and poor management, the country’s oil infrastructure is in a severe state of disrepair. Its oil production has drastically fallen from its peak levels, and the state-owned oil company has encountered difficulties maintaining operations.
Trump disclosed that he had informed oil companies about the operation before it started, but he did not alert Congress. This revelation sparked inquiries about the administration’s decision-making process and whether it consulted with elected representatives before initiating a major military action.
Trump justified the intervention as a means to protect American interests and revive Venezuela’s economy. He proposed that the country’s oil wealth should benefit both Venezuelans and Americans. However, there have been criticisms questioning the legality and diplomatic basis for such extensive U.S. involvement in another country’s internal affairs.
Major U.S. energy companies have closely monitored these developments. The prospect of tapping into Venezuela’s vast reserves could be a lucrative business opportunity. However, these companies must consider the risks of operating in an unstable political environment against potential rewards. The challenges associated with infrastructure alone would require years of committed investment to overcome.
Venezuela’s oil demands specialized refining equipment and technical expertise, making its extraction and processing more complicated and costly than conventional oil production. Foreign investment has been limited in recent years.
International responses to the U.S. operation have been varied. Some neighboring countries expressed concern about the precedent of military intervention to remove a sitting head of state, while others perceived the change as positive given Venezuela’s political and economic turmoil. The situation poses a significant challenge to international law and norms regarding sovereignty and intervention.
Rodríguez faces the task of governing under U.S. supervision while maintaining legitimacy with Venezuelan institutions and the public. Her statement about cooperating with Washington suggests her awareness of her limited options, though the long-term political arrangements are uncertain.
The gunfire on Monday night near the presidential palace underscored the precarious security situation in Caracas. Several armed groups operate in the city, and coordination between these groups seemed to collapse during the incident, causing concerns about control and command structures.
As Venezuela enters this unprecedented period of foreign administration, questions arise about the duration of U.S. involvement, the form a transitional government might take, and whether the country’s citizens will accept this arrangement. The situation continues to rapidly evolve, with both political and security dynamics remaining fluid.
Trump’s claim of direct control over another country marks a significant expansion of presidential power and a deviation from traditional U.S. foreign policy strategies. The coming weeks will determine whether this intervention will achieve its intended goals or lead to new complications in an already complex regional situation.