The United States conducted a military operation in Venezuela over the weekend, resulting in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The Trump administration has outlined a threefold process for the country's future, focusing on stabilization through oil sales and a transition to new governance. Markets have reacted positively, with oil stocks rising amid expectations of American investment opportunities.
On Saturday, U.S. forces executed a surprise military operation in Caracas, Venezuela, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on charges related to drug trafficking and other indictments. The action, described by Secretary of State Marco Rubio as a success, has sparked international debate over U.S. intervention in Latin America.
In a closed-door briefing to lawmakers on Wednesday, Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth detailed a "threefold process" for Venezuela's future: stabilization, recovery, and transition. Stabilization involves a "quarantine" phase, including the seizure of a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic and plans to sell 30 to 50 million barrels of sanctioned Venezuelan oil at market rates. "We're going to take between 30 and 50 million barrels of oil," Rubio said. "We're going to sell it in the marketplace... That money will then be handled in such a way that we will control how it is dispersed in a way that benefits the Venezuelan people, not corruption, not the regime."
The recovery phase aims to restore fair access to Venezuela's market and facilitate national reconciliation, including amnesty for opposition figures and rebuilding civil society. Details on the transition remain unclear, with phases expected to overlap. President Trump announced on Truth Social that Venezuela would turn over the oil barrels to the U.S., with proceeds overseen by American authorities, potentially subsidizing U.S. oil companies to rebuild infrastructure—a process Trump estimated at under 18 months, though experts predict several years.
For now, Trump is backing Maduro's vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, as interim leader, alongside remaining Maduro-era ministers for interior and defense. Former national security adviser John Bolton warned that the regime may resist, stating, "I think it's going to be very hard... to get them to do what he wants them to do."
Lawmakers received briefings, with Republicans like House Speaker Mike Johnson praising the operation and confirming no U.S. boots on the ground are planned. Democrats, including Rep. Seth Moulton and Sen. Chuck Schumer, criticized the lack of a clear post-operation plan and called for public hearings. Polls show strong Republican support, with 74% approving the ousting of Maduro in a Washington Post survey and 80% among 2024 Trump voters.
Wall Street has benefited, with the Dow Jones hitting record highs and stocks in Chevron, Exxon Mobil, and others surging on prospects of U.S. investment in Venezuelan oil. Bondholders and defense contractors also saw gains amid heightened geopolitical tensions.
