Inside the most consequential U.S. covert operation in years — an analysis based on reporting by The New York Times and CNN

On January 3, the United States carried out an operation in Venezuela that has already reshaped the balance of power in the region. President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were detained and transferred to the U.S. as part of a covert military-intelligence mission codenamed Absolute Resolve.

According to The New York Times and CNN, the operation ranks among Washington’s most dangerous and politically explosive actions in decades — with consequences that extend far beyond Caracas.

The Charges and the Public Case

Maduro is currently in U.S. custody. On January 3, American prosecutors unsealed an indictment accusing the Venezuelan leader of narco-terrorism and conspiracy to facilitate the international trafficking of cocaine.

President Donald Trump framed the operation as a decisive blow against global drug networks. Yet experts interviewed by The New York Times caution that Venezuela is not a major narcotics producer, but rather a secondary transit corridor — largely feeding European markets.

The indictment also names Maduro’s son, several senior Venezuelan officials, and the alleged leader of Tren de Aragua, a criminal group the Trump administration designated a terrorist organization in 2025. Claims by the White House that the group operates in direct coordination with Maduro’s government are not supported by U.S. intelligence assessments, according to The New York Times.

Months in the Shadows: A Mission with No Margin for Error

Preparations for the capture stretched on for months. As early as August 2025, a CIA team was quietly deployed inside Venezuela — without diplomatic cover, without immunity, but with full operational freedom.

With the U.S. embassy in Caracas shuttered, traditional diplomatic channels were impossible. Instead, the operation relied on human intelligence networks, drones, and technical surveillance. According to CNN, the combination of insider sources within Venezuela’s elite and persistent aerial monitoring allowed U.S. intelligence to map Maduro’s movements and security apparatus with striking precision.

Meanwhile, inside the United States, a full-scale replica of Maduro’s residence was constructed at a classified training site. There, the elite Delta Force unit rehearsed the assault scenario repeatedly, refining every movement down to the second.

A Final Attempt at Diplomacy

A military strike was not Washington’s only option. In November 2025, Trump and Maduro spoke by phone — a conversation described by CNN sources as an ultimatum: voluntary resignation in exchange for personal security.

In December, U.S. officials floated another proposal through back channels — a transfer of power and Maduro’s departure to Turkey. The offer was formally extended on December 23 and was viewed in Washington as a last chance to avoid a direct assault.

By month’s end, Maduro attempted to shift the narrative, offering U.S. access to Venezuela’s oil infrastructure. The White House dismissed the move as a tactical maneuver, concluding that Maduro had no genuine intention of relinquishing power.

Day Zero

Trump authorized the launch of Absolute Resolve shortly before Christmas. The operation was delayed several times due to weather conditions before the final order was issued late at night.

The assault began with a sweeping cyberattack that plunged large parts of Caracas into darkness. U.S. aircraft and drones then struck radar installations and air-defense systems, clearing an aerial corridor for special-operations helicopters. According to CNN, more than 150 aircraft and unmanned systems were deployed from 20 bases across the Western Hemisphere.

During insertion, one helicopter sustained damage from ground fire. Return fire followed, resulting in at least 40 deaths, including both military personnel and civilians.

Maduro and Flores attempted to reach a fortified safe room but failed to secure its reinforced doors in time. “He almost made it,” Trump later remarked. The capture took place at Fort Tiuna, Venezuela’s largest military complex.

Within five minutes of entry, Delta Force had full control of the compound. The couple was airlifted to the USS Iwo Jima, then transferred via Guantánamo Bay to New York.

The Political Cost of Victory

The operation concluded without American military fatalities — a result Pentagon officials describe as a tactical success. Politically, however, the debate is only beginning.

Lawmakers in Congress and U.S. allies alike have raised concerns about the operation’s legal foundation and its compatibility with international law. Critics argue that, despite official rhetoric about counter-narcotics enforcement, the action amounts to a direct regime change.

In Caracas, tensions remain high. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez condemned the operation as a “brutal attack.” Much of the city emptied in the aftermath, with businesses shuttered and streets quiet.

Trump has since stated that the United States will effectively oversee Venezuela for an indefinite period and has not ruled out deploying American troops. Venezuela holds some of the world’s largest oil reserves, and any instability in Caracas sends immediate shockwaves through global energy markets.

“We will run the country until we can guarantee a safe, orderly, and responsible transition,” Trump said.Analysts warn that Absolute Resolve could strain U.S. relations with left-leaning governments across Latin America — and inject a new layer of volatility, both political and economic, into an already fragile region.