The Capture of Maduro: A Full Timeline

The relationship between Donald Trump and Venezuela has been one of the most volatile and consequential chapters in modern geopolitics. Spanning two presidencies, this "matter" has evolved from economic sanctions to a historic and unprecedented military intervention.

This blog breaks down the timeline, the "Maximum Pressure" strategy, and the dramatic events of January 2026.

1. The Strategy: "Maximum Pressure"

During his first term (2017–2021), Donald Trump’s policy toward Venezuela was defined by Maximum Pressure.² This involved

• Economic Blockades: Targeting the state-owned oil company, PDVSA, to cut off the Maduro government’s primary source of income.

• Diplomatic Isolation: Recognizing opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the "interim president" in 2019, claiming Nicolás Maduro’s re-election was fraudulent.⁴

• Narco-Terrorism Charges: In 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice indicted Maduro and senior officials for "narco-terrorism," offering a $15 million reward for his arrest.⁵

2. The Great Escalation (2025)

When Donald Trump returned to office as the 47th President in January 2025, he significantly ramped up the pressure, shifting from economic measures to direct military action.⁶

The Designation of "Foreign Terrorist Organizations"

In February 2025, the Trump administration designated the Tren de Aragua (a Venezuelan gang) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.⁷ Trump claimed the group was a front for the Maduro government, using this designation to bypass traditional war declarations and authorize "kinetic strikes."⁸

The "Boat Strikes" (September – December 2025)

Throughout late 2025, the U.S. began a series of lethal strikes in the Caribbean:⁹

• September 2, 2025: The U.S. military conducted its first strike on a vessel departing Venezuela, killing 11 people.¹⁰ Trump described it as a strike on a "drug-carrying boat."¹¹

• October 2025: Trump declared the U.S. was in a "non-international armed conflict" with drug cartels, further expanding his executive war powers.

• December 2025: The U.S. Navy began a "total and complete blockade" of sanctioned oil tankers, seizing ships en route to Asia.¹²

   

3. The Climax: Operation "Absolute Resolve"¹³

The tension reached a breaking point in early 2026 with a military operation that shocked the world.¹⁴

• January 3, 2026: In a covert operation named Absolute Resolve, U.S. special forces entered Caracas, Venezuela.¹⁵

   

• The Capture: President Trump announced that U.S. forces had captured Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.¹⁶ They were immediately flown to New York to face federal charges.

   

• January 5, 2026: Maduro appeared in a New York federal court, pleading "not guilty" to charges of narco-terrorism and cocaine importation.¹⁷

   

4. Timeline of Key Events

5. Current Status: "Open for Business"

As of mid-January 2026, the situation remains in flux:

• U.S. Control: Trump has stated that the U.S. will "run" the country until a transition occurs.¹⁸ He has invited major oil companies (Chevron, ExxonMobil) to rebuild Venezuela's infrastructure.

   

• Legal Battles: Maduro remains in U.S. custody, and his trial is expected to be one of the most high-profile legal proceedings in history.

   

• The "Don-roe Doctrine": Trump has cited a modern version of the Monroe Doctrine to justify these actions, asserting that the Western Hemisphere must be free of foreign adversaries like China and Russia.