U.S. special operations forces capture Nicolas Maduro in Operation Absolute Resolve

U.S. special operations forces detain former Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro in Operation Absolute Resolve, acting on a 2020 federal drug trafficking indictment that carried a $15 million reward. The operation follows four months of escalating military pressure: Operation Southern Spear's boat strikes began September 2, 2025, and Trump's November 27 Thanksgiving statement warned land strikes were "very soon." Maduro is transported to a U.S. naval vessel. Venezuela's interim opposition government, which the U.S. had recognized as legitimate, announces it will assume formal governing authority. CELAC holds an emergency summit the following day, with Mexico, Brazil, and most Latin American nations condemning the operation as a violation of Venezuelan sovereignty. China and Russia issue separate condemnations. Trump calls the capture "the most important drug bust in history." The Maduro capture triggers a rapid shift in Venezuela sanctions: Treasury broadly authorizes PDVSA transactions within weeks as the U.S. seeks $100 billion in energy investment.