Trump said the U.S. is keeping open the possibility of a second military strike on Venezuela.
On January 4th (local time), US President Donald Trump declared that Washington could launch a second military attack on Venezuela if the remaining members of the Venezuelan government did not cooperate.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said the U.S. administration is ready to work with the remaining Venezuelan officials to address the drug and oil issues. However, he warned that further military action remains an option if these efforts are thwarted. He also mentioned the possibility of stronger intervention in Colombia and Mexico regarding drug control.
In Caracas, senior Venezuelan government officials strongly condemned the incident, calling the US arrest of President Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores an act of "kidnapping" that violates international law.
In a strong message, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello asserted: "There is only one President here, Nicolas Maduro Moros. No one should fall for the provocations of the enemy."
Venezuela argues that Washington's true intentions are not to enforce the law but to target its natural resources. "We are outraged that everything has finally been revealed – they only want our oil," Cabello declared.
Venezuela's Ministry of Defense announced that its armed forces had been activated to ensure national sovereignty, while accusing the US attack of causing casualties among soldiers and civilians.
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez is currently serving as interim leader with the support of the Supreme Court. Rodriguez has also publicly rejected Trump's claims that she is willing to cooperate with the U.S. on Washington's terms.
On the US side, President Trump has made no secret of his intention to allow American oil companies access to Venezuela's oil reserves. However, this military move is facing concerns within the US itself. Senator Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader in the Senate, warned that the White House has no clear plan and that this action could plunge the US into an "endless war."
The international community is closely monitoring developments in Venezuela, with growing concerns about the legality of the arrest of a sitting head of state. The UN Security Council is expected to hold an emergency meeting on January 5th to discuss the incident. Russia and China have criticized the US action, calling for respect for the UN Charter and international norms.
On the streets of Caracas, the atmosphere was relatively quiet, but people expressed deep anxiety. Many rushed to buy essential supplies in fear that the situation could worsen in the coming days.
