A predawn op in Latin America? The US has been here before, but the seizure of Venezuela’s Maduro is still unprecedented
The Conversation••nation
Key Points:
- On January 3, 2026, U.S. forces conducted a surprise operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, flying them to New York to face drug charges, marking a significant shift in U.S. policy toward direct military intervention in South America.
- This operation recalls Cold War-era U.S. interventions in Latin America, breaking with decades of diplomatic approaches and signaling a return to a more aggressive, unilateral "might-makes-right" strategy under the Trump administration.
- Historically, the U.S. has avoided direct regime change in South America, focusing instead on indirect actions; the Maduro seizure is unprecedented in its directness and scope.
- The aftermath of Maduro's removal remains uncertain, as Venezuela's constitution designates Vice
