Trump claims Maduro ‘captured and flown out of the country’
US president Donald Trump claims that the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife have been “captured and flown out of the country”.
In a Truth Social post shared only moments ago, Trump wrote:
The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country. This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement. Details to follow. There will be a News Conference today at 11 A.M., at Mar-a-Lago. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP.
The Guardian has been unable to independently verify this report.
Updated at 05.29 EST
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Russia calls for ‘immediate clarity’ on Maduro’s whereabouts
Russia has demanded “immediate” clarification about the circumstances of the reported US abduction of Venezuelan President Maduro during an attack ordered by President Donald Trump.
The Russian foreign ministry said in a statement:
We are extremely alarmed by reports that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were forcibly removed from the country as a result of today’s US aggression. We call for an immediate clarification of the situation.
Earlier, Venezuela’s vice-president, Delcy Rodríguez, said the US needed to provide “proof of life” for Maduro.
Domestic US political reaction is beginning to come in. My colleague Edward Helmore has the latest:
New Jersey senator Andy Kim, a Democrat, posted on X that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth “looked every Senator in the eye a few weeks ago and said this wasn’t about regime change. I didn’t trust them then and we see now that they blatantly lied to Congress.”
Sen. Kim accused Trump of rejected a “constitutionally required approval process for armed conflict because the Administration knows the American people overwhelmingly reject risks pulling our nation into another war.”
Kim, a former State Department employee under the Obama administration, Kim said the overnight strikes in Venezuela “doesn’t represent strength. It’s not sound foreign policy. It puts Americans at risk in Venezuela and the region, and it sends a horrible and disturbing signal to other powerful leaders across the globe that targeting a head of state is an acceptable policy for the US government.”
He warned that the strikes “will further damage our reputation – already hurt by Trump’s policies around the world – and only isolate us in a time when we need our friends and allies more than ever”.
Updated at 07.15 EST
Colombian president urges meeting of UN security council over strike against Venezuela
Edward Helmore
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has said his country is seeking a meeting of the UN security council.
Writing on X, Petro said Colombian forces were being deployed to the border, and all available support forces will be deployed in the event of a massive influx of refugees. He wrote:
The Colombian embassy in Venezuela is active and responding to calls for assistance from Colombians in Venezuela. As members of the United Nations security council, we seek to convene the council.
Petro said “the government of Colombia rejects the aggression against the sovereignty of Venezuela and of Latin America. Internal conflicts between peoples are resolved by those same peoples in peace”.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has said his country is seeking a meeting of the UN security council. Photograph: Carlos Ortega/EPA
He said that “the principle of the self-determination of peoples” should be respected and invited “the Venezuelan people to find the paths of civil dialogue and their unity”. He added:
Without sovereignty, there is no nation.
Russia has condemned the US military action in Venezuela on Saturday, saying there was no tenable justification for the attack and that “ideological hostility” had prevailed over diplomacy, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Venezuela is Russia’s most important ally in South America, though the Kremlin has stopped short of offering assistance to Caracas in the event of a conflict with the US.
The Russian foreign ministry said in a statement:
This morning, the United States committed an act of armed aggression against Venezuela. This is deeply concerning and condemnable.
The pretexts used to justify such actions are untenable. Ideological hostility has triumphed over businesslike pragmatism.
The statement did not mention Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, whom US President Donald Trump claimed was captured during Saturday’s military action on the South American country.
“We reaffirm our solidarity with the Venezuelan people,” Russia’s statement said, adding there were no reports of Russian citizens injured in US strikes.
Harry Taylor
Christopher Sabatini, senior fellow for Latin America at Chatham House, has shared some analysis of the latest events in Venezuela and says attacks by the US have prompted many questions:
This isn’t a surprise. Though the narrative around the US rationale for the escalation and attacks off the coast of Venezuela has changed over time (anti-narcotics, removal of Maduro, regime change) this step was almost inevitable after the six-month escalation failed to generate internal dissent that could prompt Maduro’s removal or regime change.
It looks for now that the US focused on key military infrastructure: Tiuna Fort, an unoccupied military barracks, several airfields and bases. Will this be enough to provoke a regime change alone? Or will it need to continue. Frankly while some US special operations forces could land in Venezuela to support targeted strikes a full military invasion is unlikely. Can these strikes go on indefinitely?
According to surveys, US citizens are opposed to the use of its military in Venezuela. And any strikes inside Venezuela now will likely force a vote in Congress under the War Powers Act.
But assuming even if there is regime change-of some sort, and it’s by no means clear even if it does happen that it will be democratic-the US’s military action will likely require sustained US engagement of some sort. Will the Trump White House have the stomach for that?
Updated at 06.44 EST
Venezuelan state-run energy company PDVSA’s oil production and refining were normal on Saturday and its most important facilities had suffered no damage from US attacks to extract President Nicolás Maduro according to an initial assessment, two sources with knowledge of the company’s operations told Reuters.
The port of La Guaira near capital Caracas, one of the country’s largest but one which is not used for oil operations, was reported to have sustained severe damage, one of the sources said.
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Natricia Duncan
The Guardian’s Caribbean correspondent, Natricia Duncan, and Kejan Haynes in Trinidad and Tobago have shared a bit more in regards to Trinidad and Tobago’s statement on Venezuela:
Trinidad and Tobago has issued a statement today distancing itself from the ongoing military operations in Venezuela. The statement from the country’s foreign affairs ministry said:
Trinidad is NOT a participant in any of these ongoing military operations. Trinidad and Tobago continues to maintain peaceful relations with the people of Venezuela.
Last month, it was revealed that the country had approved the installation of a US military radar facility, stoking fears that the Caribbean could be drawn into the escalating crisis between the US and Venezuela.
The country’s prime minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, claimed the radar installation in the country, which is only seven miles away from Venezuela at its closest point, is part of a counter-drug trafficking strategy
Persad-Bissessar has consistently expressed strong support for the US military buildup in the Caribbean.
Intergovernmental organisation, the Caribbean Community (Caricom) have released a statement saying that conference of heads of government of caricom met early on 3 January after reports of military action in Venezuela.
It shared that Caricom “is actively monitoring the situation which is of grave concern to the region with possible implications for neighbouring countries”.
“Caricom will continue to update the people of the region as more information is received,” it added.
ShareTrinidad and Tobago ‘not a participant in ongoing military operations’ in Venezuela, says PM
Trinidad and Tobago were not involved in any of the ongoing military operations against Venezuela, its prime minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, has confirmed.
In a post on social media today, Persad-Bissessar wrote:
Earlier this morning, Saturday 3rd January 2026, the United States commenced military operations within the territory of Venezuela.
Trinidad and Tobago is NOT a participant in any of these ongoing military operations. Trinidad and Tobago continues to maintain peaceful relations with the people of Venezuela.
Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro has previously accused Persad-Bissessar as having “revealed a hostile agenda against Venezuela since taking office, including the installation of US military radars to target vessels transporting Venezuelan oil”.
In the past, Persad-Bissessar praised US strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and the Pacific.
Updated at 06.06 EST
Here are some more images coming out of Venezuela today:
Military personnel guard the perimeter of the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, on Saturday. Photograph: Miguel Gutiérrez/EPABolivarian national police force officers patrol the streets in Caracas, Venezuela, on Saturday. Photograph: Miguel Gutiérrez/EPAMilitary personnel guard the perimeter of the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, after multiple explosions were reported across the capital. Photograph: Miguel Gutiérrez/EPAArmed groups guard the entrance to the Cuartel de la Montana (Mountain Barracks) in Caracas, Venezuela, on Saturday. Photograph: Miguel Gutiérrez/EPAShare
Updated at 05.54 EST
Italy’s foreign minister Antonio Tajani said on Saturday that Rome and its diplomatic representation in Caracas were monitoring any developments of the situation in Venezuela with particular attention to the Italian community in the country.
Tajani said in a post on X that Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni was being kept constantly informed and that the foreign ministry’s crisis unit was operational.
Reuters reports that Italy’s ambassador in Venezuela said on Saturday on Italy’s state TV Rai that about 160,000 Italians currently live in the country, most of them with dual passports, as well as some who are there for reasons of work and tourism.
Germany’s foreign ministry on Saturday said it was watching the situation in Venezuela with great concern and a crisis team was to meet later for further discussion.
A written communication obtained by Reuters said the ministry was in close contact with the embassy in Caracas and a crisis team would meet later on Saturday.
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Sam Jones
Sam Jones, who is the Madrid correspondent for the Guardian, has shared a longer statement from the Spanish foreign ministry:
Spain calls for de-escalation and moderation, and for action to be conducted in accordance with international law and the principles of the UN charter.
In this regard, Spain is prepared to offer its good offices to achieve a peaceful and negotiated solution to the current crisis.
Spain reiterates that it has not recognised the results of the 28 July 2024 elections and has always supported initiatives to achieve a democratic solution for Venezuela. It also reiterates that it has welcomed, and will continue to welcome, tens of thousands of Venezuelans who have had to leave their country for political reasons and that it is prepared to assist in the search for a democratic, negotiated, and peaceful solution for the country.
As explosions hit Caracas, the Venezuelan government confirmed attacks had been made on the capital, as well as three other states: Miranda, La Guaira and Aragua.
The Guardian video team has shared this footage of aircraft flying low over Caracas as explosions hit the Venezuelan capital:
Aircraft fly low over Caracas as explosions hit Venezuelan capital – videoShareVenezuelan vice-president demands immediate ‘proof of life’ of Maduro and his wife
Tom Phillips
Speaking on Venezuela TV, the vice-president, Delcy Rodríguez, appears to confirm the capture of Nicolás Maduro. She demands immediate “proof of life” of Maduro and the first lady Cilia Flores.