On January 3, 2026, Venezuelans woke to the sound of explosions and uncertainty. U.S. airstrikes hit key installations across the country, while American Special Forces carried out a raid that ended with President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, taken into custody and flown out of Venezuela. Within hours, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Washington would temporarily run the country to oversee a transition of power and rebuild its infrastructure.
For millions of Venezuelans tired by years of economic collapse, shortages, and political suppression, the moment felt strange. For the rest of the world, it marked something even bigger the first direct U.S. military intervention in Latin America in decades.
Washington claims the operation was about restoring democracy, protecting human rights and stopping drug trafficking networks. But outside U.S. government circles, few believe the story is that simple. To many observers, Venezuela’s huge natural wealth especially its oil looms large behind the decision to turn years of sanctions and pressure into open military force.

A Country Rich in Resources, Poor in Daily Life

Venezuela is one of the........

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