President Donald Trump said the United States would be in charge in Venezuela “until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” after U.S. forces captured Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores in an overnight operation. He cast the move as a revival of the Monroe Doctrine, rebranding it the “Donroe Doctrine.” Trump spoke at Mar-a-Lago hours after the raid and suggested American oil companies will help restart production.
Maduro is now in federal custody in New York. The Associated Press reported he is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Prosecutors are expected to proceed in Manhattan on long‑standing narco‑terrorism charges originally brought in 2020 and now updated; the Justice Department’s prior SDNY filings outlined allegations that Maduro conspired to traffic cocaine into the United States.
The Pentagon code‑named the raid “Operation Absolute Resolve.” U.S. officials described a complex air‑ground mission involving more than 150 aircraft and special operations units, conducted without congressional pre‑authorisation. Trump said there were no U.S. fatalities; U.S. media reported several injuries. Venezuelan casualties were reported, with at least 40 deaths cited by outlets summarising initial figures.
The operation raises immediate questions under the UN Charter. Article 2(4) prohibits the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, while Article 51 preserves a right of self‑defence if an armed attack occurs. With no Security Council mandate, critics argue the U.S. action breaches these rules; the Council is due to meet to consider the situation.
London is calibrating its response. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK viewed Maduro as illegitimate but reiterated support for international law, adding that Britain had no role in the operation and is seeking full facts. The UK has been urging a peaceful transition since December and is focused on the safety of British nationals in Venezuela.
On the ground in Caracas, Vice‑President Delcy Rodríguez asserted she is interim leader and condemned the U.S. action, contradicting Trump’s claim that she would cooperate. Trump said Rodríguez told Secretary of State Marco Rubio “we’ll do whatever you need,” a statement she publicly rejected in subsequent remarks.
Opposition figures remain sidelined for now. Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado is not being backed by Washington to lead a transition, according to Trump’s remarks. Many international actors previously said evidence suggested opposition candidate Edmundo González won the disputed July 2024 election; the EU and OAS questioned the official results.
Trump’s rhetoric points beyond Venezuela. He warned Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro that he must “watch his ass” and suggested “something’s going to have to be done with Mexico,” remarks that unsettled regional governments already condemning the strikes as violations of sovereignty. Analysts note this framing as a deliberate doctrinal shift from Monroe to the self‑styled “Donroe” approach.
In Washington, officials have sought to justify the mission as a law‑enforcement action supported by military means. Rubio said it was “basically” an arrest operation for indicted fugitives, while legal scholars point out that U.S. courts generally allow prosecutions to proceed regardless of how a defendant was brought to the United States, under the Ker‑Frisbie line of cases.
For policy professionals, three practical issues follow. First, UN deliberations will test whether members accept a self‑defence or law‑enforcement rationale for forcible abduction abroad; the Secretary‑General has warned of precedent risks. Second, UK officials face pressure to balance past statements on international law with support for Venezuelan democrats. Third, domestic U.S. oversight questions remain after Rubio said pre‑notification of Congress was not feasible; party leaders demand briefings early this week.