By Nupur Apte
On January 3, 2026, the people of Venezuela took to the streets, yelling and chanting in celebration. Why were they so enthused? Their dictator had just been taken into custody by the American government, bringing an end to the thirteen-year-long tyranny of Nicolás Maduro and his regime. The ending of Maduro’s presidency was one celebrated in Venezuela, but their new management may not be much better.
Merely days after Maduro’s capture, President Trump announced that Venezuela would turn over approximately 30-50 million barrels of oil to the U.S., worth around 1.65 to 2.8 billion dollars. If that isn’t suspicious enough, Vice President JD Vance is quoted as saying that Venezuela will be permitted to sell its oil, so long as Venezuela serves the best interests of the United States. The Trump Administration continues to deny that this was a kidnapping. The Vice President insists that the act was a law enforcement matter, rather than a war crime—as it was classified as in the Geneva Conventions following the Second World War.
But what does it all mean for Venezuela going forward? The country will likely be under the leadership of Maduro’s second in command, Delcy Rodrígues, who promises to uphold his terror in the event he is unable to. The country will also most likely face continued and escalated intervention by the Trump administration in its never-ending war for resources. The country of Venezuela will continue to face problems while its leader is held in prison, as the fight to lead Venezuela and the fight for its resources collide.