Maduro’s Capture: Initial Assessment

On January 3, 2025, U.S. President Trump announced on his social media account that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife had been detained by the U.S. military and counterintelligence services and removed from the country. Several hours earlier, N. Maduro had declared that U.S. forces were attacking the country, announced martial law, and called on the population to resist.

On January 2, powerful explosions were heard in the capital Caracas and in several provinces, and missile strikes were carried out against government buildings in the capital. U.S. aircraft conducted low-altitude flights, while numerous helicopters were seen freely operating in the skies over Caracas.

These developments indicate that the Venezuelan armed forces and intelligence have been rendered paralyzed and that the air defense system has been completely disabled. Following Maduro’s detention, it remains unclear how the country will be governed and whether U.S. ground troops will enter the country. It should be noted that under the Venezuelan Constitution, if the president is unable to exercise his powers, these functions are transferred to the vice president. The current vice president is Delcy Rodríguez.

It should be recalled that for several months the United States had been increasing pressure on Venezuela, accusing it of involvement in drug trafficking.

A number of observers state that the main intention of the United States is to gain control over Venezuela’s oil industry, as the country possesses the world’s largest oil reserves. It should be noted that after leftist Hugo Chávez came to power in 1998, the U.S. oil company Exxon was expelled from the country. Subsequently, Venezuela faced sanctions and severe economic difficulties. After Chávez’s death in 2013, Maduro, who came to power, continued his predecessor’s policies. Maduro sought to expand cooperation with China.

The detention of a sitting head of state by a foreign power last occurred in 1940. That year, German forces occupying Belgium detained King Leopold III of Belgium and held him under house arrest until 1945. What has happened to Maduro demonstrates a further weakening of international law, which presumes the absolute immunity of heads of state.

The Daily Baku editorial