The United States has taken control of Venezuela. This happened after a military operation overnight. US forces captured President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. President Donald Trump announced this from his Mar-a-Lago resort. He said the US will manage Venezuela for a short time. This is because of problems with elections. Trump also said Maduro led a "narco-state."
US forces used airstrikes during the operation. They captured the Venezuelan leader. President Trump called the action "powerful." The US said Maduro's government hurt democracy. They said he changed the 2024 election results. However, Maduro denied these claims. He believes the US wants Venezuela's oil.
This action is seen as a move against China. China has bought a lot of Venezuelan oil. The US also stopped more Venezuelan oil from leaving. They are trying to stop oil tankers. These actions aim to hurt China's energy supply. They also want to make things harder for Chinese businesses.
Venezuela is now in a state of confusion. Maduro and his wife are held by the US. The Vice President's location is unknown. This could create a problem with leadership. The European Union is watching closely. They want to make sure EU citizens are safe. Cyprus asked for calm and for countries to follow international law.
Global oil prices have changed because of this. Oil futures went up. Transporting Venezuelan oil is now more risky. Chinese refineries must find other oil sources. This will cost them more money. The future impact on energy prices is not yet clear.