It's not the first time the United States has used force to remove a Latin American strongman from power. But the Trump administration's operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro now leaves that country's future shrouded in uncertainty.

Caracas

The U.S has launched strikes on sites inside Venezuela, including military facilities and arrested Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro along wife his wife.

Venezuela Strikes

Venezuela is experiencing a period of uncertainty after the removal of Nicolás Maduro as its leader, although his government remains in place. The country continues to face significant economic hardship, with shortages of food and medicine and a large portion of its population having fled in recent years. 

The United States has brought new drug-related charges against Maduro and his associates, but has stated its goal is not to run Venezuela. Opposition leaders, many of whom are in exile or hiding, depend on international support for a possible transition, while ordinary Venezuelans remain anxious about the nation's future direction.

In Venezuela, uncertainty in the wake of Maduro's removal

Venezuela may indeed be without its leader but it is not without his government, at least for the moment. Nicolás Maduro was by all accounts irredeemable, a repressive and brutal dictator with a long list of alleged human rights violations. The one-time bus driver drove his oil-rich nation's economy into ruin. Over a quarter of Venezuela's population has fled the poverty, the dysfunction, so there's little love lost about him being removed. But inside Venezuela, any cheers were tempered by the uncertainty of the days ahead. Many Venezuelans hate Maduro, you know, anything to get rid of him, but it's only one step in the process. Now we have to see what happens next. William Newman spent years covering Maduro's rise to power for the New York Times and he fears the title of his book on Venezuela, Things Are Never So Bad That They Can't Get Worse, could easily come true now. Is the U.S. going to send in troops? And I want to know what it means we are going to run the country and why do we want to run another country? The White House says it never set out to run a country but to eradicate drugs. In 2020, Maduro was charged in the Southern District of New York for narco-terrorism and conspiracy to import cocaine. A superseding federal indictment, unsealed after this weekend's raid, adds more drug-related charges and more defendants, including Maduro's wife, Celia Flores. It's not the first time the U.S. has used federal drug trafficking charges as a way to depose the Latin American strongman. Noriega in U.S. custody. Back in 1989, U.S. troops invaded Panama and eventually captured its president, Manuel Noriega. But unlike Panama in 1989, we swore in another president. We actually did manage to change the regime. That has not happened in Venezuela. Oscar Perez is a professor of political science at the University of North Texas at Dallas. I think for the United States, the question is, what is our ultimate goal in Venezuela? Is it the arrest of an alleged narco-trafficker? Is it about control of the oil resources that Venezuela has? Is it about democracy? Venezuela's opposition leader, Maria Corina Machado, who won the Nobel Peace Prize last year for her efforts to advance democracy in Venezuela... I am very hopeful Venezuela will be free. Said that the time had come for popular and national sovereignty to return to her country. The problem? President Trump yesterday said that she lacks popular support. And many other opposition leaders have, like her, fled or are now hiding, fearing reprisals. They're not in Venezuela. So, in many ways, they are dependent on the United States pushing a transition process that might lead them to take power eventually. But just how would that work? If you decide to run the country for a extended period of time, well, then that means that, you know, you're not going to allow the citizens of that country to elect their own leadership because then you're not running it. Protests are already dotting U.S. cities. But back in Venezuela, people are taking to the streets for a different reason. They're lining up outside grocery stores. Food and medicine were already in short supply. What Venezuelans now have in abundance is anxiety about where this country of nearly 30 million people goes from here.

A day after the U.S. raid in Venezuela that captured former President Nicolás Maduro, President Trump has put new Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez on notice. "If she doesn't do what's right", Trump told the Atlantic on Sunday, "she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro."

Washington

Uncertainty in Venezuela as Trump threatens country's new president

Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is being housed at Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn, after he was captured by U.S. forces and flown to New York to face federal drug trafficking and weapons charges.

Maduro held in same jail as Sean "Diddy" Combs, Luigi Mangione

Police have identified all 40 victims who died in a New Year's Eve bar fire in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, including multiple teenagers. Two managers of Le Constellation bar have been placed under investigation for criminal negligence, according to prosecutors.

Crans-Montana

Police identify all 40 victims of Swiss bar fire

Seized overnight from their home on a military base on Saturday, Venezuela's toppled leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife are now being held in a New York detention centre. The apprehension is the U.S.'s most controversial in Latin America since the invasion of Panama 36 years ago.

U.S justifies Venezuela operation to capture Nicolás Maduro

As Venezuela grapples with the capture of Nicolás Maduro, the country’s top court has named Delcy Rodríguez as the acting president. The 56-year-old has served as Venezuela’s vice-president since 2018.

Venezuela’s top court names new president after Maduro’s ouster

Sunday's launches came hours before South Korean President Lee Jae Myung departed for China for a summit with President Xi Jinping, for talks expected to cover North Korea's nuclear program.

Pyongyang

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The strikes occurred Saturday evening on an underground facility in the mountains just north of the historic town of Palmyra in Homs province.

Palmyra

British, French warplanes strike suspected IS facility in Syria

At least 30 people have been killed and several others abducted after gunmen attacked a market in Nigeria’s Niger State, according to police. The attackers stormed Kasuwan Daji market in Demo village on Saturday afternoon, setting stalls on fire and looting food.

Niger

At least 30 killed in market attack in Nigeria’s Niger State

Pope Leo has expressed deep concern over the recent U.S. raid in Venezuela, urging that the well-being of the Venezuelan people must take precedence over all other considerations.

Rome

Pope voices concern over U.S. raid in Venezuela, calls for peace

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was in a New York jail Saturday, hours after American special forces seized and flew him out of his country — which President Donald Trump said would come under effective U.S. control.

Venezuela's Maduro arrives in New York after being abducted by U.S.

President Donald Trump says the people of Venezuela are now free of Maduro's dictatorship. But Venezuela's vice president has demanded the US send Maduro back, calling him the rightful president.

Trump says U.S will ‘run’ Venezuela after Maduro seized

After their capture, former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife were flown to Stewart International Airport, 60 miles north of New York City, then will be helicoptered to Manhattan. They will be processed at the headquarters of the Drug Enforcement Administration. Ali Bauman reports.

U.S. treating Nicolás Maduro like a drug kingpin, federal authorities say

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is in New York after he was captured by U.S forces during a daring raid. President Trump said the U.S. will be running the Latin American country, for now.

New York

First images emerge of Nicolás Maduro after capture by U.S.

No U.S. service members were killed in the military operation in Venezuela, the Trump administration said. CBS News national security correspondent Charlie D'Agata has more details.

No U.S. service members killed in Venezuela operation, Trump administration says

The United Nations, along with a host of countries including France, China and Russia have criticized U.S strikes on Venezuela and capture of Nicolás Maduro as a violation of international law.

World reacts to U.S. strikes on Venezuela, capture of Nicolás Maduro

Initial investigations suggest the fire that tore through a Swiss ski resort bar New Year's Eve, killing at least 40 and injuring dozens of others, started when 'fountain candles' attached to champagne bottles were carried too close to the ceiling.

Sion

Deadly Swiss fire likely caused by champagne sparklers

BYD is now the world's top seller of electric cars, overtaking Tesla after a decade of dominance by Elon Musk's company. Bloomberg's Ed Ludlow breaks down how the world's richest man came in second.

Austin

BYD topples Tesla as world's biggest EV brand

In a surprise attack overnight on Saturday, the United States launched strikes against Venezuelan capital Caracas and other cities. U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Nicolas Maduro and his wife were "captured and flown out of the country". Follow for live updates.

Trump says U.S. 'will run' Venezuela until 'safe' transition

In a surprise attack overnight on Saturday, the United States launched strikes against Venezuelan capital Caracas and other cities. US President Donald Trump stated that Nicolas Maduro and his wife were "captured and flown out of the country".

Maduro to be brought to New York after Venezuela capture, Trump says

US strikes rocked Venezuela's capital early Saturday after months of threats by Donald Trump against Nicolas Maduro. Trump later confirmed the United States had carried out the strikes and captured the Venezuelan leader.

Venezuela says 'rejects with all our strength presence of foreign troops'

Separatist forces in Yemen say at least seven people were killed in Saudi airstrikes on Friday, as tensions deepen between regional allies. The strikes come while the Saudi-backed governor of Hadramout province says “peaceful” efforts are underway to retake military bases abandoned by Emirati-backed separatists, highlighting the latest escalation in the rift between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi.

Seiyun

Saudi airstrikes kill seven in Yemen as tensions deepen between allies

Venezuela slams U.S. strikes amid Maduro's ouster

Venezuela said it rejected "military aggression" by the United States after multiple explosions rocked capital Caracas and other areas early on Saturday. Attacks took place in the capital of Caracas and the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira.

Trump says Venezuela's Maduro captured after U.S. strikes

Ukraine's President Zelenskyy has appointed Gen. Kyrylo Budanov as the new chief of staff. At a pivotal moment in Moscow's nearly four-year invasion, Budanov will be central to Ukraine’s wartime decision-making.

Kyiv

Zelenskyy taps military intelligence chief as top aide

President Trump ordered strikes on sites inside Venezuela, including military facilities, as the administration early Saturday ratcheted up its campaign against the regime of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

U.S. launches military strikes on Venezuela

A potential New Year's Eve terror attack inspired by ISIS was thwarted in North Carolina, authorities announced. A suspect is in custody, accused of planning to attack a grocery store and a fast food restaurant in the town of Mint Hill, which is located near Charlotte. Scott MacFarlane has the latest.

Charlotte

Potential terror attack thwarted in North Carolina, officials say

The blaze at Le Constellation, killing at least 40 people and injuring about 115 others, many seriously, was likely started by sparklers in champagne bottles, authorities said on Friday afternoon, as identification of those killed and injured continued.

Deadly Swiss Alps bar fire likely started by sparklers

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro says he is open to talks with President Trump on several issues, including drug trafficking, oil and migration.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro open to talks with Trump

Whenever, wherever, however - that's the Venezuelan President's offer to sell more oil to the U.S., as he pleads for diplomacy, not conflict. It comes after Washington hit five more alleged drug boats with airstrikes and reportedly struck Venezuelan soil for the first time. Meanwhile, the U.S. Coast Guard is in hot pursuit of an oil tanker which is suddenly claiming to be Russian.

Maduro open to talks with Trump over fight against drug trafficking

U.S. President Donald Trump threatened on Friday (January 2) to come to the aid of protesters in Iran if security forces fire on them, days into unrest that has left several dead and posed the biggest internal threat to Iranian authorities in years.

In Venezuela, uncertainty in the wake of Maduro's removal

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Venezuela Strikes