TL;DR
A US operation in Caracas on January 3 removed Nicolás Maduro from power; President Trump announced the United States will run Venezuela until a transition is arranged. Analysts in the source draw parallels to the early-20th-century Platt Amendment in Cuba and warn of constrained sovereignty, domestic resistance, and long-term instability.
What happened
On the night of January 3, a US operation in Caracas reportedly ousted President Nicolás Maduro; the source states Maduro and the First Lady were taken during the raid and several sites were bombed. The next morning, President Trump said the United States would run Venezuela "until such time as [we] can do a safe, proper and judicious transition," and presented a team he described as in charge, naming senior US officials including the Secretary of State, the Secretary of War, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and a White House policy official. Venezuela’s vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, and other officials appeared on national television asserting that Venezuela would not become a colony. Trump also said the US was prepared to use force again if necessary and outlined priorities such as border controls, counter-narcotics and bringing in large US oil companies to repair the oil sector. The source frames these developments as creating a period of constrained sovereignty akin to the Cuba model after the Spanish–American War.
Why it matters
- A major power openly declaring it will "run" another country raises fundamental questions about Venezuelan sovereignty and international law.
- Historical parallels to the Platt Amendment suggest long-term political consequences, including weakened domestic institutions and amplified nationalism.
- Control over Venezuela’s oil sector and limits on foreign agreements could reshape regional economic and strategic alignments.
- The stated readiness to use further military force increases the risk of escalation and prolonged instability within Venezuela and beyond.
Key facts
- Source reports a US midnight raid in Caracas on January 3 that removed Nicolás Maduro from power and detained him and the First Lady.
- President Trump said the United States would run Venezuela until a safe, proper transition could be arranged and named a US team as responsible.
- Officials named by Trump as part of the team include Secretary of State Rubio, Secretary of War Hegseth, Joint Chiefs Chair Dan Caine, and White House policy official Stephen Miller (as reported in the source).
- Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez appeared on national television rejecting the idea of Venezuela becoming a colony; Trump claimed she agreed to work with the US, a claim contested by other press reports cited in the source.
- Trump said the US was ready to conduct a larger follow-up attack if needed and emphasized expectations of Venezuelan cooperation on border control and counter-narcotics.
- The source quotes Trump describing plans for large US oil companies to invest in and repair Venezuela’s oil infrastructure.
- The article compares the situation to the Platt Amendment era in Cuba, noting the amendment allowed US intervention rights and control over treaty-making and naval leases.
- The source argues that the Cuban experience produced constrained sovereignty, weakened institutions, radicalized nationalism, and eventual revolution, and asks whether the US can avoid repeating those outcomes in Venezuela.
What to watch next
- How the transitional administration announced by the US will be structured and how long it will remain in place — not confirmed in the source.
- Whether Delcy Rodríguez and other Venezuelan officials will formally cooperate with the US team or continue to contest US claims, given conflicting statements in the source.
- The possibility of additional US military action: the source reports President Trump said the US is prepared to carry out a larger follow-up attack if needed.
- The level and form of domestic resistance inside Venezuela and any increases in anti‑US sentiment, which the source identifies as a likely consequence.
Quick glossary
- Protectorate: A political arrangement where a stronger state exerts control over the foreign policy and security of a weaker one while allowing limited internal autonomy.
- Platt Amendment: An early-20th-century US policy instrument that limited the sovereignty of Cuba by permitting US intervention and restricting its treaty-making, cited in the source as a historical parallel.
- Constrained sovereignty: A condition in which a country's decision-making is significantly limited by external powers, even when it retains formal independence.
- Transitional government: An interim administration established to manage a country during a period between two political regimes or while organizing new elections or institutions.
- Counter-narcotics: Policies and operations aimed at preventing illegal drug production, trafficking and distribution, often involving military and law-enforcement measures.
Reader FAQ
Was Nicolás Maduro removed from power?
According to the source, a US raid on January 3 led to Maduro’s removal and the detention of him and the First Lady.
Is the United States officially administering Venezuela now?
The source reports that President Trump said the US will run Venezuela until a transition is arranged; detailed governance arrangements are not provided.
Are Venezuelan officials cooperating with the US?
The source presents conflicting accounts: Trump said Vice President Delcy Rodríguez agreed to work with the US, while other reports cited in the source quote her saying Maduro remains Venezuela’s president.
Will US companies take control of Venezuelan oil assets?
The source records President Trump stating that large US oil companies would enter to repair and operate Venezuela’s oil infrastructure; whether this becomes formal policy is not confirmed in the source.
How likely is regional escalation?
The source notes US statements about readiness for further military action and warns of risks of instability and radicalization, but does not provide definitive projections.
BY KARL IN GEOPOLITICS — JAN 3, 2026 Running Venezuela: The Return of the American Protectorate? In a midnight raid on Caracas on 3rd January, the US quickly deposed Nicolas…
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