One of Italy’s most respected journalists specializing in geopolitics and international affairs is Federico Rampini. He has been living in the United States for several years, works as Washington correspondent for Corriere della Sera, and is a frequent guest on major Italian TV networks.
His recent analysis of the unfolding events in Venezuela offers a useful starting point to understand what pushed Donald Trump to strike Caracas during the night between Friday, January 2, and Saturday, January 3.
“President Trump does not care about violating international law by bombing the Venezuelan capital and capturing Nicolás Maduro at night, inside his home, while he was with his wife.” According to Rampini, this is because Trump is driven by two main priorities: oil and the global image of the United States.
Venezuela and the End of Maduro’s Dictatorship: How the U.S. Captured Chávez’s Heir
“The largest operation since World War II”. This is how the occupant of the White House described the military action that led to Maduro’s capture. The operation began late on Friday, January 2, at around 11:00 p.m. local time in Caracas. The plan had been meticulously prepared days in advance. Trump had already authorized the intervention on December 26, but adverse weather conditions forced military commanders to delay the operation by a few days.
Once all potential obstacles were removed, more than 150 aircraft took off from 20 different U.S. military bases and headed toward Venezuela. American F-35 fighter jets, military helicopters, drones, and B-1 bombers targeted four strategic locations, each a key logistical hub for Venezuela’s economy and defense system: the port of La Guaira, the La Carlota military airbase, Higuerote Airport, and the Fuerte Tiuna military complex.
The latter was a heavily fortified site where Maduro and his wife were located at the time of their capture. It remains unclear whether the Venezuelan leader had negotiated the terms of his removal from power with Washington. What is certain is that, within hours, he was transferred to Brooklyn prison, considered one of the most secure and closely guarded facilities in the United States.
Oil and Drug Trafficking, Venezuela’s Real Gold: What Lies Ahead for the Country’s Economy After Maduro?
“If she does not do the right thing, she will pay a higher price than Maduro.” With these words, Trump sent an immediate and unmistakable message to Delcy Rodríguez, the newly appointed interim president. Seen as a more moderate face of the Chavista establishment, Rodríguez has become the first woman to hold Venezuela’s highest office.
Relations between the new prime minister and the U.S. president are yet to be defined, but the country cannot afford to wait. If Trump intends to continue the fight against drug trafficking, time is already running out. Drug cartels are currently assessing the new balance of power in a post-Maduro Venezuela. For years, Maduro protected criminal organizations and covered up their operations. The longer the transition takes, the more opportunity these groups have to reorganize and establish new alliances.
However, the most critical challenge for Venezuela’s future remains control over its oil reserves, the country’s greatest natural asset. While much of the world is asking how Trump will decide to exploit Venezuela’s vast resources, far fewer are questioning the damage caused by Maduro during his 12 years in power.
Chávez’s successor monopolized extraction sites by imprisoning anyone who stood in his way, favored criminal groups loyal to his regime, and manipulated the rules of the international market. With Maduro gone, will Venezuela finally be able to revive its economy and fully benefit from its oil wealth?
