On Jan. 3, 2026, United States forces conducted a large-scale military operation in Venezuela, striking strategic locations such as Caracas and capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, under the administration of President Trump. The U.S. now claims control over Venezuelan oil exports indefinitely and plans to sell tens of millions of barrels on global markets. Alongside two dozen Venezuelan officers, 32 Cuban military and police officers working in Venezuela were also killed in the attack. Colombian President Gustavo Petro has also been outwardly critical of the Trump Administration’s strike on Venezuela, expressing his strong opposition to the entire situation. “If it is a pure resource grab, then the country that the United States would look to next would be Greenland.

Source: ABC News January 22, 2026 19:46 UTC