A research study issued by the virtual TRENDS Research & Advisory office for Latin America reported that the U.S. military operation carried out in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, in the early hours of Saturday, 3 January 2026, represented a significant political and security development at the regional level.

The study, prepared by Dr. Paulo Botta, Director of the virtual TRENDS office in Latin America, stated that U.S. forces targeted military and security sites in Caracas, resulting in the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and their transfer to the United States.

According to the study, Maduro and his wife face trial before the federal court in the Southern District of New York on charges including conspiracy to traffic drugs, organizing and managing a transnational criminal organization, money laundering, providing support to designated terrorist organizations, in addition to allegations of serious human rights violations and financial corruption.

The study noted that the operation occurred within the framework of the U.S. National Security Strategy issued in December 2025, which emphasizes strengthening American preeminence, with particular attention to the security of resources and alliances in Latin America.

It indicated that Venezuela, which possesses the largest proven oil reserves in the world, represents a strategic focal point in U.S. calculations, given Caracas’ relations with Cuba, Russia, China, and Iran.

The TRENDS office observed varied international reactions, with Argentina and Paraguay supporting the U.S. move, while Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia condemned the operation, alongside rejection from Russia, China, Iran, and Cuba. The United Nations and the European Union also expressed concern over the operation’s implications for international law.

The study concluded that the political landscape in Venezuela remains uncertain, amid scenarios ranging from a politically supported transition with international backing to escalating internal unrest resulting from the existing balance of power within the country.