January 3, 2026 — a date that will echo across Latin American history. In the early hours of the morning, U.S. forces launched a coordinated strike across northern Venezuela, culminating in the dramatic capture of President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores. The operation, dubbed Absolute Resolve, was executed by elite units including Delta Force, the Marine Corps, and even the U.S. Space Force — a staggering show of military coordination.

What Just Happened?

• Multiple Venezuelan states were bombed, including the capital Caracas, triggering explosions at key military installations.
• Maduro was captured aboard the USS Iwo Jima, a U.S. Navy vessel, in what many are calling a modern-day political abduction.
• Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was ordered by Venezuela’s Supreme Court to assume the role of acting President, though she continues to demand Maduro’s release and insists he remains the country’s only legitimate leader.

Why Now?

This wasn’t spontaneous. Tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela had been simmering for months — fueled by:

• Allegations of drug trafficking and human rights abuses under Maduro’s regime.
• Venezuela’s deepening ties with Iran and Russia, which alarmed Washington.
• A collapsing economy and mass migration crisis that spilled across borders.

The Bigger Picture

This isn’t just about Venezuela. It’s about:

• The return of U.S. interventionism in Latin America — a region with a long, painful history of foreign interference.
• The fragility of sovereignty in a global order where might often overrides diplomacy.
• The silence or complicity of neighboring nations, many of whom have yet to condemn or support the strike.

Wandering Thoughts…

As I reflect on this from afar, I wonder — what does liberation look like when it arrives uninvited? Is this justice, or just another chapter in the book of empire? And most importantly, what happens next — to the people of Venezuela, to the balance of power in the Americas, and to the idea of democracy itself?