President Donald Trump is set to meet the elite American troops who carried out the dramatic January raid in Caracas that resulted in the arrest of Venezuela’s President, Nicolás Maduro.
The visit, scheduled for Friday at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, will see Mr Trump and the First Lady, Melania Trump, greet members of the special forces unit behind what the White House has called “Operation Absolute Resolve”. It is a moment the administration has framed as both a military success and a political statement.
The raid unfolded in the early hours of 3 January. According to US officials, helicopters descended on a heavily guarded compound in the Venezuelan capital, seizing Mr Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Venezuelan authorities said the operation was preceded by American air strikes on military sites. Caracas reported that 83 people were killed and more than 100 injured. The Pentagon has said no US personnel died in the assault.
Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said the president would meet “the heroic members of our special forces who carried out the successful operation in Venezuela and helped bring narco-terrorist Nicolás Maduro to justice”.
Mr Maduro is now being held in the United States. He faces charges related to drug trafficking and other alleged crimes. He has pleaded not guilty. A court hearing is scheduled in New York on 17 March.
The operation has further strained relations across Latin America, where governments are divided over Washington’s actions. Some leaders have expressed concern about sovereignty and the precedent of cross-border military force. Others have remained cautious, watching closely as the legal case unfolds.
Mr Trump has repeatedly praised the mission. At a rally in Iowa in January, he described it as “spectacular”, applauding what he called “unbelievably talented patriotic people that love our country”. In a recent interview with NBC News, he alluded to a classified system allegedly used during the raid. “I’m not allowed to talk about it,” he said. “But let me just tell you… none of their equipment works.”
The president has also indicated that Venezuela’s political future could hinge on cooperation with Washington. He signalled support for former vice-president Delcy Rodríguez to assume leadership, provided certain conditions are met, including guarantees around oil access and governance.
For now, the focus in Washington is on the troops. The Fort Bragg appearance offers Mr Trump a carefully staged moment of triumph, a chance to honour soldiers who carried out one of the most audacious foreign operations of his presidency.
About the Author
