Venezuela: US captures Maduro - initial thoughts (flash)
Stuart Culverhouse
—
Chief Economist
3 Jan 2026
Posts
Venezuela's President Maduro and his wife have been captured by US special forces and flown out the country
VP Rodriguez expected to take over (at least temporarily) but unclear if there will be new democratic elections
Maduro to face charges in the US. President Trump is expected to provide more detail in a news conference later today
US special forces have captured and extracted Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, according to media reports this morning (see here and here), citing a statement by President Trump on Truth Social. They have been flown out of the country (whereabouts unknown).
More detail is expected later today with Trump due to give a news conference at 11am EST (4pm UK time) at Mar-a-Lago. Maduro is now expected to stand trial on criminal charges in the US (presumably after failing to negotiate an exit with immunity). Recall Maduro had a US$50mn bounty on his head.
The swift and targeted operation, done in conjunction with US Law Enforcement, follows a large scale strike against various sites in Venezuela overnight and comes after the recent escalation of the US's maritime offensive. It also follows the first land strike on the country on 2 January with a US drone attack on a port facility.
And any doubt about the veracity of Trump's statement about Maduro's capture may be laid to rest after Venezuela's Vice President Delcy Rodriguez's proof of life demands.
Read the full report on the Tellimer App
Stuart has over 20 years’ experience as an economist in both the public and private sectors and has been covering EMs since 2000. He joined Tellimer in July 2006 and heads the team of macro and fixed-income analysts. Previously, he worked for the UK government Economic Service and as an Economic Adviser at the Export Credits Guarantee Department.