Let the mayhem begin.
US Armed Forces invaded Venezuela and took their president prisoner.
The fact is resounding and forceful: the US Armed Forces invaded Venezuela and took their president, to be tried as a drug trafficker. The operation was a sequel to a maritime prologue that saw the US Navy move massively into the Caribbean, sinking 34 boats accused of drug trafficking.
The reaction that has caused the event is nothing less than a global tsunami. A very complicated event that has begun to unleash oceans of opinion. I react dismayed by what I understand it means for Boricuas, inevitably wrapped up in this geopolitical board game. The complexity and scope of the facts does not make it possible to attend to it briefly.
Puerto Rico’s Status.
It is well known that as an unincorporated territory we are owned but not part of the US and that this determines our possibilities in the face of the matter. But we remain as the geographical bridge between North and South, as well as the gateway to the Caribbean. We have a long history of being a military stronghold; we were that for Spain and then for United States.
We thought that the U.S. military hegemony had diminished when the US left the island of Culeba, and especially Vieques. The attack on Venezuela represents the historical retreat to times of pure and unbridled imperialism, nothing foreign to the Colossus of the North, which has a long history of interventionism in Latin America with a very particular attention to Puerto Rico.
The commotion caused by the Maduro event is of gigantic proportions and, although it has inevitable signs of improvisation, some of the orchestration is remarkable. With the sad consequence of accentuating a divisionism that overwhelms from all angles.
The President
On Saturday, January 3, President Trump declared that the United States planned to run Venezuela for an undetermined period, run by the main plan of the U.S. executive, dictating orders to his government and exploiting its oil reserves.
The real motive: Venezuelan oil.
“We are not afraid to put boots on the floor. Venezuela unilaterally took over and sold US oil, American resources and platforms that cost us trillions and trillions of dollars. They did it a while ago and there was no president who did anything about it. They took our property. The socialist regime robbed us during previous administrations and they stole it from us by force. Now it is clear that we take it back and that the Americans must be compensated before the Venezuelans become rich.”
A rhetorical jewel and a narrative that makes clear Trump’s style and motives.
The Courts
The press reports that the Southern District of New York reactivated accusations against Nicolas Maduro: “for 25 years the leaders of Venezuela have abused their positions of public trust to corrupt once legitimate institutions to import tons of cocaine from the United States.” Maduro is accused along with his wife, son and three other people on charges of conspiracy of narcoterrorism, import of cocaine, possession of machine guns and destructive devices.
The authorities allege that drug cartels worked directly with the Venezuelan government and sent profits to senior officials who helped and protected them in return. It is pointed out that Maduro allowed “cocaine-fueled corruption to flourish for their own benefit and for the benefit of the members of their ruling regime. For the benefit of their family members they provided police coverage and logistical support to the cartels resulting in up to 250 tons of cocaine trafficked through Venezuela annually by 2020. Maduro is accused of ordering kidnappings, beatings and murders against those who owed them drug money or undermined his drug trafficking operation.
The legality of the intervention is a serious debate in the US. Only Congress has the authority to decree wars.
Holy and good Maduro is certainly not. His crimes are serious as is the illegitimacy of his mandate after despising the electoral results. His crimes should not remain unpunished. But, the invasion and its aftermath infringes on the sovereignty of a country and highlights the consequences that this unleashes at the international level.
The legality of the intervention is a serious debate in the US. Only Congress has the authority to decree wars and any recourse of force in the territory of another State raises violations of international law. In particular, the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter on sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the operation was an application of the law in which the Department of War supported the Department of Justice. Maduro was a fugitive from American justice with a reward of 50 million dollars on his head.
The Congress
Like the majority Republican leader in the Senate, John Thune, stressed that the capture of Maduro is an important first step in bringing him to justice for his crimes, cataloging the management as the decisive action of the president.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the highest-ranking in the Foreign Relations Committee, pointed out that Maduro’s capture was entirely inconsistent with what the higher-ranking officers reported to the Committee behind closed doors in recent weeks. “Because the president and his cabinet repeatedly denied any intention to carry out a regime change in Venezuela, we are left without understanding of how the administration is preparing to mitigate the risks to the US and we have no information on the long-term strategy to follow after the extraordinary escalation.”
Senator Andy Kim, Democrat of New Jersey, accused Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth of having blatantly lied to Congress when they said that the goal in Venezuela is not to overthrow Maduro. He cataloged the action as disastrous with the consequence of isolating the United States even more on the global stage.
The Allies
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he expressed “the support of the entire government for the firm decision and energetic action of the United States.”
Israel is on the side that supported the US operation. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he expressed “the support of the entire government for the firm decision and energetic action of the United States to restore freedom and justice in that region of the world and we also salute the US Armed Forces, who have carried out a perfect operation.”
The president of Argentina, Javier Milei was the first to show his support for the capture of Maduro. We celebrate the fall of the narco-terrorist dictator Maduro. Here there are no half-inks or grays, you are on the side of good or you are on the side of evil.”
Daniel Noboa from Ecuador pointed out that “all Chavista drug criminals have their time… Its structure will eventually fall throughout the continent.”
Santiago Peña in Paraguay described the fall of Maduro as good news, who led an “illegitimate, predatory and dictatorial regime.
The Bolivian government said it supports the Venezuelan people in the process of recovering democracy and considered that the current crisis is a consequence of the collapse of the rule of law, as well as the consolidation of criminal structures that have captured the state apparatus.
Interim Peruvian President José Jerí wished the speedy recovery of internal order in Venezuela – he considered Maduro illegitimate – and announced that he will give facilities to the more than one million Venezuelans who live in his country for an immediate return regardless of their migratory status.
The Opposition
The Venezuelan Delegation to the United Nations requested an emergency meeting of the Security Council and the condemnation of the military invasion of its country. Russia and China, Venezuela’s allies and members of the Council, requested an emergency meeting this week.
Venezuelan Ambassador Samuel Moncada Acosta in a letter to the Security Council points out: “The United States always uses lies to fabricate wars. It is an international tyranny imposed with the propaganda of death: the recent past confirms it.”
The Foreign Minister of Venezuela Yvan Gil warned the rest of Latin America: “this is not an attack on Venezuela, it is an attack on Latin America and the Caribbean. How is Venezuela, tomorrow it can be anyone who is going to exercise their sovereignty.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed his “deep alarm” over the recent “escalation of tension in Venezuela,” which he warned, could have “concerning implications” for the region.
The Community of Latin American States held an emergency meeting to address the matter. Left-wing leaders in Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Uruguay along with Spain have vigorously denounced the violation of sovereignty. In a joint declaration they denounced the military operation as an extremely dangerous precedent and warned against any attempt to control government, administration or appropriation between natural or strategic resources in Venezuela.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed his “deep alarm” over the recent “escalation of tension in Venezuela,” which has culminated in a military action by the United States in the country and which, he warned, could have “concerning implications” for the region.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro harshly attacked the attack on his ally, ordered the deployment of the public force at the border and announced “all the assistance force we have in case of massive entry of refugees.”
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a Brazilian leftist critical of Maduro, considered that Saturday’s actions “exceed an unacceptable limit” and set “an extremely dangerous precedent.”
Claudia Sheinbaum’s Mexican government said that “any military action puts regional stability at serious risk.” Mexico said that the attack violates the UN Charter and called for the cessation of aggressions “against the Venezuelan government and people” and offered to mediate in dialogue.
The end cannot justify the means,” Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi summarized.
Miguel Díaz-Canel in Cuba considered the attack a criminal act and state terrorism, asked for a life of Maduro and assured that the United States’s goal is to take away Venezuela’s oil and natural resources.
China’s reaction was to condemns the United States for its recklessness in using force against a sovereign state and attacking its president. Pictures is Chinese President Xi Jinping.
China’s reaction after the capture of the Venezuelan president is shocking and condemns the United States for its recklessness in using force against a sovereign state and attacking its president. They also pointed out the violation of international laws, violating the sovereignty of Venezuela and threatening the peace and security of the Latin American States and the Caribbean.
Russia issued a joint statement with Belarus that “Moscow and Minsk are united in their firm condemnation of the aggression committed by the United States against a sovereign country, violating international law.”
Puerto Rico
The prelude to the invasion began to be felt on the island several weeks ago when the military bases that remained latent were activated. The arrival of military personnel has increased in Fort Buchanan, Camp Santiago, Ramey Base and Fort Allen, the Air Base as well as operations in Vieques. Matter that reactivated the well-known controversy of very old and painful wounds in our collective memory.
The administration on duty, headed by a republican governor and aligned with her commander, did not hesitate to raise praise for the security that the guardianship gives us. Taking the opportunity to politicize the partisan conflict with attacks on its independence contender that has an ideological relationship with Bolivarian social democracy. It is not enough to say that the situation has become ugly, with attacks that in my opinion are still low and desperate.
The immediate and notable impact of the military action was that the Federal Aviation Administration decreed the ban on airspace over the International Airport in Puerto Rico and the cancellation of Delta, America, Southwest flights in compliance with the closure, which affected more than 400 flights and over 48,000 passengers on the island.
Puerto Rico once again fulfills its role as a military station, without participation other than serving as a military base for the United States. Pictured: troops in 1898 invasion of Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico once again fulfills its role as a military station, without prominence or participation other than serving as a military base for the United States. The return to Puerto Rico as a platform for US interventions in neighboring countries. It is anticipated that the military activity will continue, considering the potential expansion of US interests to countries such as Cuba, Colombia, Mexico. With the aggravating circumstance that getting away with it inevitably will mean an increase in the probability of future interventions in which Cuba runs the greatest risk.
The governor to Jennifer González, after the capture of Maduro issued the following statement: “It is a new day for Venezuela. The information confirmed today by President Donald J. Trump represents an event of great relevance. The decisive action of the United States, led by President Trump, reaffirms the commitment to end narcoterrorism in our hemisphere, with the defense of the rule of law, democracy and human rights.”
That this is a great Burundanga (mishmash) there is no doubt. And the mishmash will continue for a while. After all, it is a great distraction from the Epstein Archives. The matter is: how do each of us land on the right side of history and what do we do about it?
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Copyright 2026 by Jose M. Umpierre. All photos in this blog are in the public domain.