Editing Openai/695b05bd-59e8-800d-8dfe-c4a0e7708b02 (section)

=== Assistant: Here’s a clear, up-to-date summary of what’s happening with the Venezuela situation right now as of early January 2026: ===
Here’s a clear, up-to-date summary of what’s happening with the Venezuela situation right now (as of early January 2026):

Major Venezuela News – U.S. Military Action and AftermathCBS NewsMaduro arrives in U.S. after military operation in Venezuela, Trump says U.S. will "run" the country for nowToday<ref>{{cite web|title=CBS NewsMaduro arrives in U.S. after military operation in Venezuela, Trump says U.S. will "run" the country for nowToday|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/venezuela-us-military-strikes-maduro-trump/|publisher=CBS NewsMaduro arrives in U.S. after military operation in Venezuela, Trump says U.S. will "run" the country for nowToday|access-date=2026-01-05}}</ref>ReutersWorld reacts to US strikes on VenezuelaToday<ref>{{cite web|title=ReutersWorld reacts to US strikes on VenezuelaToday|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/world-reacts-us-strikes-venezuela-2026-01-03/|publisher=ReutersWorld reacts to US strikes on VenezuelaToday|access-date=2026-01-05}}</ref>The GuardianProtests erupt in US cities over Trump’s military intervention in VenezuelaToday<ref>{{cite web|title=The GuardianProtests erupt in US cities over Trump’s military intervention in VenezuelaToday|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/04/venezuela-trump-protests-us-cities|publisher=The GuardianProtests erupt in US cities over Trump’s military intervention in VenezuelaToday|access-date=2026-01-05}}</ref>Al JazeeraVenezuelans reflect on Maduro’s removal, grappling with hope and fearToday<ref>{{cite web|title=Al JazeeraVenezuelans reflect on Maduro’s removal, grappling with hope and fearToday|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/4/venezuelans-reflect-on-maduros-removal-grappling-with-hope-and-fear|publisher=Al JazeeraVenezuelans reflect on Maduro’s removal, grappling with hope and fearToday|access-date=2026-01-05}}</ref>ReutersVenezuela's interim government says it is united behind Maduro after his U.S. captureToday<ref>{{cite web|title=ReutersVenezuela's interim government says it is united behind Maduro after his U.S. captureToday|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/venezuelas-maduro-custody-trump-says-us-will-run-country-2026-01-04/|publisher=ReutersVenezuela's interim government says it is united behind Maduro after his U.S. captureToday|access-date=2026-01-05}}</ref>ReutersVenezuela's Supreme Court orders Delcy Rodriguez become interim presidentYesterday<ref>{{cite web|title=ReutersVenezuela's Supreme Court orders Delcy Rodriguez become interim presidentYesterday|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/venezuelas-supreme-court-orders-delcy-rodriguez-become-interim-president-2026-01-04/|publisher=ReutersVenezuela's Supreme Court orders Delcy Rodriguez become interim presidentYesterday|access-date=2026-01-05}}</ref>ReutersVenezuela moves to cut oil output due to US export embargoToday<ref>{{cite web|title=ReutersVenezuela moves to cut oil output due to US export embargoToday|url=https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/venezuelas-pdvsa-asks-some-joint-ventures-cut-back-oil-output-sources-say-2026-01-04/|publisher=ReutersVenezuela moves to cut oil output due to US export embargoToday|access-date=2026-01-05}}</ref>ReutersRestoring democracy in Venezuela must respect its people's will, EU countries sayToday<ref>{{cite web|title=ReutersRestoring democracy in Venezuela must respect its people's will, EU countries sayToday|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/restoring-democracy-venezuela-must-respect-its-peoples-will-eu-countries-say-2026-01-04/|publisher=ReutersRestoring democracy in Venezuela must respect its people's will, EU countries sayToday|access-date=2026-01-05}}</ref>

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* In a highly unusual and controversial move, U.S. forces launched a military strike and operation inside Venezuela, called “Operation Absolute Resolve.”
* Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were captured by U.S. special forces in Caracas and taken into U.S. custody. This is extremely rare for a sitting head of state. The Washington Post<ref>{{cite web|title=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/01/03/venezuela-maduro-capture-inside-raid/|publisher=The Washington Post|date=2026-01-03|access-date=2026-01-05}}</ref>

===== - Maduro and Flores are now in New York and will face U.S. federal charges including narco-terrorism and drug trafficking. The U.S. says he ran a criminal cartel-like regime. The Australian<ref>{{cite web|title=The Australian|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/world/massive-scale-drug-trafficking-read-maduros-indictment-in-full/news-story/17e5adb81fe797c1099a8e515e5e4f1d|publisher=The Australian|access-date=2026-01-05}}</ref> =====

===== - Venezuela’s Supreme Court named Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as interim president to maintain continuity. She and Maduro’s supporters reject the U.S. action. Reuters<ref>{{cite web|title=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/venezuelas-supreme-court-orders-delcy-rodriguez-become-interim-president-2026-01-04/|publisher=reuters.com|access-date=2026-01-05}}</ref> =====

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* Some Latin American leaders and the U.S. administration call it a blow against dictatorship and drug trafficking.
* Others condemn it as illegal intervention and a violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty (EU, China, several countries). Reuters<ref>{{cite web|title=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/restoring-democracy-venezuela-must-respect-its-peoples-will-eu-countries-say-2026-01-04/|publisher=reuters.com|access-date=2026-01-05}}</ref>

===== - The operation has triggered protests in major U.S. cities, with critics calling it imperial overreach. The Guardian<ref>{{cite web|title=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/04/venezuela-trump-protests-us-cities|publisher=The Guardian|access-date=2026-01-05}}</ref> =====
* Some U.S. officials now say the U.S. doesn’t plan to run the country day-to-day, even though President Trump initially said the U.S. would “run Venezuela.” AP News<ref>{{cite web|title=AP News|url=https://apnews.com/article/d337c7b96fc4a0b47eba6b33adc515e6|publisher=AP News|access-date=2026-01-05}}</ref>

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* Venezuela has some of the world’s largest oil reserves, and U.S. sanctions/export embargoes are now disrupting oil production and exports, contributing to economic instability. Reuters<ref>{{cite web|title=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/venezuelas-pdvsa-asks-some-joint-ventures-cut-back-oil-output-sources-say-2026-01-04/|publisher=reuters.com|access-date=2026-01-05}}</ref>

===== - This marks one of the most direct U.S. military interventions in Latin America in decades, raising geopolitical tensions with countries like China, Iran, and right across the Western Hemisphere. The Washington Post<ref>{{cite web|title=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/01/03/venezuela-maduro-china-beijing-oil/|publisher=The Washington Post|date=2026-01-03|access-date=2026-01-05}}</ref> =====

==== Inside Venezuela, reactions vary: ====
* Some people celebrate hope for change after years of hardship under Maduro’s government.
* Others fear chaos, instability, and loss of sovereignty. Al Jazeera<ref>{{cite web|title=Al Jazeera|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/4/venezuelans-reflect-on-maduros-removal-grappling-with-hope-and-fear|publisher=Al Jazeera|access-date=2026-01-05}}</ref>

Delcy Rodríguez insists Maduro is the legitimate leader and rejects the U.S. operation. Reuters<ref>{{cite web|title=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/venezuelas-maduro-custody-trump-says-us-will-run-country-2026-01-04/|publisher=reuters.com|access-date=2026-01-05}}</ref>

==== This event didn’t come out of nowhere: ====
* Maduro’s rule was long disputed, with contested elections and allegations of authoritarianism and economic collapse. Wikipedia<ref>{{cite web|title=Wikipedia|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_inauguration_of_Nicol%C3%A1s_Maduro|publisher=en.wikipedia.org|access-date=2026-01-05}}</ref>
* Venezuela has seen repeated economic hardship, migration, and infrastructure crises (like nationwide blackouts). Wikipedia<ref>{{cite web|title=Wikipedia|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Venezuelan_blackouts|publisher=en.wikipedia.org|access-date=2026-01-05}}</ref>

==== Right now, Venezuela is in a major crisis involving: ====
# The U.S. capture of its president (Maduro) and his transfer to U.S. courts.
# A power struggle over governance with interim leadership and contested legitimacy.
# International tensions, with world powers divided over whether it was lawful or legitimate.
# Economic disruption, especially tied to oil exports.

If you want, I can break this down further — like a timeline of events, explanation of international law questions, or what this means for everyday Venezuelans. Just let me know!