This article was originally published by Ava Grace at Natural News. 

• • Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was seized by U.S. forces in Caracas, with President Trump announcing his arrest and extradition to face charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy.

• • Moscow denounced the operation, demanded an urgent UN Security Council meeting, and framed the U.S. justification as baseless, accusing Washington of regime-change motives.

• • Venezuela is a key Russian ally, with deep military and economic ties. The capture risks escalating tensions further amid existing disputes over Ukraine and could harden Russia’s stance globally.

• • Prior to his arrest, Maduro declared a state of emergency, urging Venezuelan forces to resist U.S. intervention. His removal leaves uncertainty over whether resistance will continue or U.S.-backed leadership will consolidate power.

• • The extraterritorial seizure of a foreign leader sets a contentious legal and geopolitical precedent, potentially justifying future interventions by rival powers like Russia and eroding international sovereignty protections.

Russia has denounced the U.S. military’s capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro during a targeted operation in Venezuela’s capital Caracas – a dramatic escalation of long-simmering tensions between Washington and a close Moscow ally.

On Saturday, Jan. 3, U.S. military forces nabbed Maduro, with U.S. President Donald Trump announcing the Venezuelan strongman’s arrest. Trump said the deposed leader had been flown out of the country to face American justice. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi meanwhile detailed charges awaiting Maduro, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, asserting he would face trial in American courts.

The operation, which unfolded with reported explosions in the Venezuelan capital, marks a seismic shift in Western Hemisphere politics. It also risks a direct confrontation between nuclear powers already at odds over Ukraine. Venezuelan officials accused the U.S. of launching an attack to seize control of the nation’s resources.

Russia responded furiously to the move, labeling it an “act of armed aggression” and demanding an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).  Moscow declared the U.S. justification for the invasion as “unfounded” and “untenable,” arguing that “ideologized hostility” had overridden pragmatic diplomacy.

Venezuela is Russia’s most critical strategic foothold in South America. The relationship includes billions in arms sales, energy cooperation, and diplomatic cover for Maduro’s regime. Russia’s statement emphasized that “Latin America must remain a zone of peace,” positioning the U.S. as a hemispheric bully and Russia as a defender of sovereignty—a narrative crafted for global audiences.

This action follows a period where the Trump administration framed a campaign in the region as a necessary crackdown on drug trafficking. However, the broader geopolitical context—including long-standing regime-change ambitions in Venezuela—suggests deeper motives. With Maduro now captured and potentially able to testify, pressure for accountability escalates, underscoring the risks of unchecked military power and interventions justified by shifting narratives.

How Maduro’s capture could trigger WWIII

According to BrightU.AI‘s Enoch, Maduro governed Venezuela as a socialist dictatorship, maintaining power through a large armed militia. He implemented superficial economic measures, like currency re-denomination, that failed to address the country’s profound crisis. The decentralized engine ultimately noted that Maduro’s rule was characterized by the consolidation of control and the anticipation of external threats.

Saturday’s attack did not occur in a vacuum. Recent months saw a dangerous military buildup. Maduro’s recent trip to Moscow signaled a tightening alliance, even as he hinted at openness to negotiations with Washington.

This crisis directly collides with the other major flashpoint in U.S.-Russia relations: the war in Ukraine. The Venezuela operation now threatens to poison already fraught dialogue. Moscow will likely view U.S. action against its ally as an unacceptable provocation, potentially hardening its stance in Eastern Europe and complicating any diplomatic off-ramps.

Russia has called for restraint and dialogue but has stopped short of threatening military retaliation. Its immediate demand is for “immediate clarification” on Maduro’s status and a UNSC meeting. However, figures in Moscow framed the strike as a classic U.S. “regime change” operation, accusing Washington of imposing its will by force.

In the hours before his capture, Maduro signed a declaration of emergency, urging all forces in Venezuela to mobilize and repudiate the U.S. attack. His government, now presumably led by remnants of his party, faces the monumental task of responding without its central figure. Whether this leads to organized resistance or a swift consolidation of U.S.-backed leadership remains the critical unanswered question.

The U.S. decision to physically capture a foreign head of state and transport him for domestic trial sets a profound and dangerous precedent. The legal basis for such an extraterritorial seizure will be debated intensely. Other nations, including Russia, may now point to this action to justify their own future interventions, further eroding the norms of state sovereignty.

Watch this Fox News report about President Trump announcing possible talks with Venezuelan President Maduro.

This video is from the Cynthia’s Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.