Trump orders Maduro’s abduction; says U.S. will run Venezuela

United States (US) President Donald Trump ordered the abduction of Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on January 3, following months of pressure from the Trump administration.

Explosions and military aircraft activity were reported near several military sites in Caracas, Venezuela, shortly after midnight on the said day. Venezuelan authorities confirmed at least 40 casualties, including civilians and members of the armed forces.

According to reports from The Guardian, Maduro, along with his wife, son, and three others, will be tried in a U.S. court on charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices, despite a lack of publicly presented evidence. Manduro and his wife are currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. 

The indictment alleges that Maduro worked with drug traffickers and narco-terrorist groups to facilitate the shipment of large quantities of cocaine into the United States.

In 2020, the U.S. initially offered a bounty amounting to $15 million for information leading to Maduro, raising it to $50 million in 2025 following the U.S. Treasury Department’s designation of Maduro as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) on July 25. 

U.S. authorities claim that he leads the so-called Cartel of the Suns and maintains ties with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), which the United States labels as a terrorist organization.

Unconstitutional and Unlawful Strike

Trump said the U.S. government would assume control of Venezuela during a political transition until what he described as a “safe, proper, and judicious transition” could be achieved. However, he did not seek approval from Congress before taking action, disregarding Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution and effectively rendering the 1973 War Powers Resolution obsolete.

"The President launched a war last night without the consent of Congress. That is unconstitutional and illegal,” said California U.S. Rep. Lateefah Simon in a statement.

Meanwhile, Article I, Section 10 of the U.S. Constitution indicates that no state shall engage in war without Congress’ consent, which means the president must consult, obtain authorization, and notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying U.S. forces.

“Congress must reassert its Constitutional power to declare war and reign in this Administration. We must use every tool to hold this President accountable and to defend the principle that in the U.S., we do not let one man choose war,” Simon added.

Furthermore, Maduro’s abduction has prompted concerns regarding compliance with international law, including Article 2(4) of the United Nations (UN) Charter, which states that “All members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations.”

The U.S. action against Venezuela received no authorization from the UN Security Council, and officials did not cite any imminent threat or aggression from the South American nation, violating its sovereign rights.

Trump on Venezuela’s Oil – ‘We Want It Back’

Trump said that major U.S. oil companies would enter Venezuela to rehabilitate its severely degraded oil infrastructure. The country possesses the world’s largest oil reserves, with over 300 billion barrels of crude, representing roughly 17% of the global supply.

“We’re going to have our very large United States oil companies, the biggest anywhere in the world, go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure, and start making money for the country,” the president said. 

On December 17, Trump said he wanted Venezuela’s oil back, claiming that the said country took the U.S.’ “oil rights.”  He subsequently ordered a complete blockade of oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, further increasing pressure on Maduro’s government.

Meanwhile, Maduro has previously accused the Trump administration of trying to overthrow him to seize control of Venezuela’s oil reserves.

Venezuela Belongs to Venezuelans

While Maduro is scheduled for a court appearance at the Manhattan federal court, Venezuela’s Supreme Court has directed Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to assume presidential authority.

Public reaction within Venezuela has been divided. While some citizens have welcomed Maduro’s removal, others have condemned the U.S. action as illegal and an infringement on national sovereignty.

Maduro has served as president since 2013, and his government has been widely criticized and described as dictatorial, with the United Nations estimating that around 20,000 extrajudicial killings occurred in Venezuela by 2019.

In 2021, the International Criminal Court (ICC) opened an investigation into the Maduro government for alleged crimes against humanity, including sexual violence and the killing of political dissidents, among others.

Additionally, Maduro’s government has been accused of manipulating Venezuela’s recent election results, declaring him the winner with 51.2% of the vote, despite exit polls from the democratic opposition indicating a 70% win for their candidate.

Despite the lingering concerns about Maduro’s leadership, experts characterize the U.S. operation as an invasion, arguing that the administration’s actions were driven in part by a strategic and economic interest in controlling Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.

Filipinos Denounce U.S. “Aggression”

The Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) condemned the U.S. action as unlawful, saying it undermines human rights and is unjustifiable.

“Ang pananakop ay pananakop. Wala nang sugar coating. Ano pa ba ang itatawag mo sa ganyan?” said Edgar “Egay” Cabalitan, PAHRA Secretary-General. 

“Bombs do not bring peace, and military force does not create justice. What these attacks leave behind are dead civilians, displaced families, and a deepening humanitarian crisis. This is a textbook case of how powerful states abuse power, trample international law, and escape accountability while ordinary people suffer,” Cabalitan added.

Activist groups sought to hold a protest at the U.S. Embassy on January 5 but were barred from reaching the site by the Manila Police District (MPD) along Kalaw Avenue. The groups denounced the recent attack, describing it as an act of U.S. imperialist aggression.

Article: JL Estrella Pablico

Graphics: Yvonne Gacillos