Trump's move to topple Maduro is fraught with risk - what happens next is unclear
BBC••general
Key Points:
- The US launched military strikes on Caracas, Venezuela, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and accusing him of weapons and drug charges, marking a rare direct intervention in Latin America since 1989.
- This operation represents a significant escalation in US efforts to remove Maduro, whom Washington has not recognized as Venezuela's legitimate president since the disputed 2024 elections.
- The US aims to install opposition leaders like Maria Corina Machado or Edmundo Gonzalez, but Venezuela's government retains strong control over the military, judiciary, and armed paramilitaries, complicating any transition.
- The intervention has sparked fears of violent fragmentation and prolonged conflict, with divided opposition and regional powers like Brazil and Colombia opposing US military involvement.
- Trump's administration has increased
