The United States has revealed that it had announced a $50 million reward for the capture of Venezuela’s President, Nicolas Maduro, in August 2025. This disclosure comes as US President Donald Trump has confirmed that the US has launched a massive military operation against Venezuela and its leader. In a statement, Trump claimed that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were apprehended in the capital city of Caracas during a surprise operation by US special forces on the weekend.
However, Venezuela’s Vice President, Jorge Arreaza, has stated that they do not know the whereabouts of Maduro and his wife, and have asked for proof of their status. In response to the US operation, Elon Musk tweeted that Venezuela would provide free internet services starting from February 3.
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has expressed satisfaction over the end of Maduro’s era. Maduro and his wife were arrested by US special forces in Caracas during a surprise operation. The US has confirmed that it had been preparing for the operation for months and had a decade-long experience in the region.
US officials, including Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, have stated that Maduro was not the legitimate president of Venezuela and that his head was worth $50 million. The US operation has been widely condemned by Russia, Iran, Colombia, and Cuba.
The US military operation was reportedly planned in secret for months, with some US personnel reportedly injured when a helicopter crashed during the operation. Trump has claimed that the operation was well-planned and that Maduro and his wife were taken out of the country.
Critics of the US operation have condemned it as a violation of international law and a threat to regional stability. Venezuelan officials have also accused the US of using a “deception” to take out Maduro and his wife.
The US has been actively involved in Venezuela’s politics for years, and this latest operation is seen as a major escalation of its involvement in the region. The US has been a vocal critic of Maduro’s government and has imposed several sanctions on the country.
