The U.S. Operation in Venezuela - Maduro's Capture & what next for Venezuela?

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For anyone hoping 2026 would be less eventful that 2025, U.S. helicopters dropping Special Forces troops into Venezuela to capture and extract Nicholas Maduro probably wasn't what you had in mind.

But even with some details still coming out, the rapid success of Operation Absolute Resolve deserves a closer examination as does the now much more complicated open question...

With Maduro in custody but the members of his Government still in place, what might be coming next for Venezuela?

Today the focus will be on the op itself, with the tanker war, and more global implications to be the focus of a follow up episode.

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Reading and Sourcing (partial):

CSIS - Imagery from Venezuela shows a surgical strike, not shock and awe
https://www.csis.org/analysis/imagery...

General Caine briefing on Operation Absolute Resolve

https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/vene...

https://breakingdefense.com/2026/01/v...

U.S. Seizes Tankers
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y...

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-0...

Reporting on Venezuelan casualty claims
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/07/us-ve...

TWZ on the DAP & Absolute Resolve
https://www.twz.com/air/this-is-what-...

Sat images of Venezuela post operation:
https://www.businessinsider.com/satel...

https://militarnyi.com/en/news/afterm...

https://www.twz.com/news-features/maj...

Arms Transfer data per SIPRI
https://armstransfers.sipri.org/ArmsT...

U.S. State Department Team arrives in Venezuela
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/01/09/po...

Trump says U.S. will 'run' Venezuela
https://www.reuters.com/world/america...

Footage of MANPADS launch
https://x.com/clashreport/status/2008...

Claimed Aftermath footage
https://x.com/archer83able/status/200...

Featured NYT report
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/07/us...

Rodriguez says 'no foreign agent' running the country
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1...

Rodriguez sworn in
https://www.reuters.com/world/america...

Bellingcat AGM-88 analysis
https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/...

U.S. buildup (December 2025)
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c78...
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-2...

U.S. Mil on Ford's location
https://www.war.gov/Multimedia/Photos....

Potential OWA UAS footage
https://x.com/FaytuksNetwork/status/2...

Maduro tomb claim and debunk
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cly1x12...

Trump meets oil execs
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2...

Caveats & Comments:


All normal caveats and comments apply. In particular – I would like to note as always that this material has been created for entertainment purposes and is not intended to be a complete or comprehensive examination of the topic in question and should not be relied upon to inform financial or other similar decisions.

Any content relating to the conduct, views, activities or any aspect of any person or character in this video is included for entertainment purposes and does not represent an assertion of fact on those matters or any matters in relation to that person or character.

Care has been taken in compiling data, quotes, and other inputs from various sources but errors can occur. Quotes and included data should be considered illustrative, not definitive and their veracity should not be relied on.

Timestamps:
00:00:00 — Opening Words
00:01:09 — What Am I Talking About?
00:03:12 — U.S. Buildup
00:06:14 — Venezuelan Readiness?
00:15:12 — the Operation
00:32:47 — Analysis
00:43:57 — Aftermath
00:51:48 — Pressure Tactics & Venezuela
00:58:34 — the Way Forward
01:01:18 — Channel Update