18 January 2025, NIICE Commentary 12264
Abhinav Raj
Military Execution of Operation Absolute Resolve
Strategic Buildup and Intelligence Preparation
On January 3, 2026, the United States executed Operation Absolute Resolve, launching military strikes on Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, marking the most significant direct military intervention in the Western Hemisphere since the Cold War era. The operation represented the culmination of months of strategic buildup that began in August 2025 with U.S. military deployments in the southern Caribbean, including warships and personnel positioning. The CIA deployed tracking teams into Venezuela utilizing intelligence sources close to Maduro to monitor his movements and coordinate precise timing with military operations, erecting a mockup of Maduro's safe house for rehearsal purposes described by President Trump as a "very highly guarded...fortress". The Trump administration's stated rationale encompassed three explicit objectives: "crippling Maduro, disrupting drug trade routes, and getting access to Venezuelan oil," positioning resource extraction as a core rather than supplementary motivation.
Operational Execution and Tactical Innovation
The military strikes commenced around 2:00 a.m. local time with explosions observed across northern Venezuela, primarily targeting air defense infrastructure and military installations. The operation involved 150 aircraft from the U.S. Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, including F-22 Raptors, F-35 Lightning IIs, F/A-18 Super Hornets, EA-18G Growlers, B-1B Lancers, and multiple helicopter platforms such as CH-47 Chinooks, MH-47s, CH-53 Super Stallions, AH-64 Apaches, and MH-6 Little Birds. This represented the first operational use of one-way attack drones by the U.S. military, with strikes targeting Generalissimo Francisco de Miranda Air Base (La Carlota), Fort Tiuna, and Higuerote Airport, where satellite imagery confirmed destruction of five warehouses, burned vehicles, blown-up security posts, a Beechcraft Baron aircraft, and a Buk-M2E surface-to-air missile system. Delta Force soldiers conducted the apprehension supported by FBI Hostage Rescue Team personnel, with combat helicopters providing air cover and electronic warfare planes disrupting Venezuelan power grids and communications.
Casualties and Immediate Aftermath
Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López reported at least 23 Venezuelan security officers killed, while Cuba confirmed 32 military and intelligence personnel killed, reflecting the international dimensions of Maduro's security apparatus. The U.S. reported seven soldiers injured from shrapnel and gunfire, but expected to survive. Maduro and Flores were flown to Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York, then transported to Manhattan for processing before detention at the Metropolitan Detention Center. President Trump announced the capture at 05:21 Venezuelan Standard Time via Truth Social, posting an image of Maduro blindfolded aboard USS Iwo Jima. The operation lasted approximately 30 minutes under the cover of darkness facilitated by U.S. disruption of Caracas power infrastructure.
Resource Nationalism and the Monroe Doctrine Revision
The "Donroe Doctrine" and Hemispheric Hegemony
President Trump explicitly characterized the Venezuela operation as an application of the "Donroe Doctrine," reimagining the historical Monroe Doctrine as a contemporary mechanism for American resource extraction and hemispheric dominance. Trump declared "American dominance in the western hemisphere will never be questioned again," framing geopolitical objectives through explicit great power realism rather than liberal internationalist rhetoric. The administration's justification integrated historical grievances with contemporary economic interests: Venezuela's 1976 and 2007 oil nationalizations were cited as thefts from U.S. companies, with Trump stating, "We built Venezuela's oil industry with American talent, drive, and skill. And the socialist regime stole it from us during those previous administrations". This narrative constructed the military intervention as restitution rather than aggression, positioning resource recovery as legitimate compensation for historical expropriations.
Explicit Oil Motivation and Economic Predation Framework
The Trump administration's transparency regarding oil extraction objectives distinguished Operation Absolute Resolve from previous interventions justified through anti-communism or democratic promotion. Trump articulated the economic vision: "US oil companies would 'go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure, the oil infrastructure, and start making money for the country.’". Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reinforced this framework: "We are going to get American companies in there to invest in the Venezuelan oil industry, resulting in access to additional wealth and resources for the US". The administration projected $100 billion investments by U.S. oil majors, despite executives from ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, and Chevron confirming no prior knowledge or commitments, with ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods characterizing Venezuela as "uninvestable" due to legal uncertainties. Trump proposed occupation reimbursement through oil revenues: "It would not cost the US anything because it would be reimbursed through revenue from Venezuela's oil reserves".
Venezuela's Strategic Energy Assets
Venezuela holds the world's largest proven oil reserves (300 billion barrels, 17% of global total), positioning control over its energy sector as a strategic imperative for U.S. energy security. The December 2025 maritime blockade intercepted tankers carrying Venezuelan crude, with the Coast Guard conducting tactical boardings under Department of Defense coordination. The administration designated Venezuelan drug cartels (Tren de Aragua, Cartel of the Suns) as Foreign Terrorist Organizations in 2025, constructing narco-terrorism linkages justifying military action while providing legal cover for asset seizures. Opposition leader María Corina Machado's 2025 Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech promised oil reserve access, though deteriorating relations with the Trump administration positioned her as lacking domestic legitimacy.
Legal and Geopolitical Consequences of Hemispheric Interventionism
Legal Violations and International Condemnation
The Venezuela operation's legality remains fundamentally contested. UN Secretary-General António Guterres and international law experts affirmed violations of the UN Charter's prohibition on military intervention without Security Council authorization and the OAS Charter's non-intervention principle. Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez characterized the capture as "kidnapping" and "imperialist aggression," declaring, "Venezuela will never again be anyone's colony". The Supreme Tribunal of Justice ordered Rodríguez to assume the presidency, with the military recognizing her as acting president on January 5, 2026. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced narcoterrorism indictments against Maduro and Flores, who pleaded not guilty in Manhattan federal court on January 5. Congressional Democrats introduced war powers resolutions limiting Trump's authority, though Republican majorities blocked authorization requirements.
Domestic Political Divisions and Congressional Response
U.S. Senate voting on January 8 (52-47) approved a resolution limiting troop deployments without congressional authorization, reflecting partisan divisions. Democratic Senator Tim Kaine condemned bypassing Congress, while Republican Senator Mike Lee affirmed Article II presidential authority to protect against imminent threats. The New York Times editorial board characterized the operation as "dangerous and illegal...latter-day imperialism" lacking legitimacy, warning of chaos from paramilitary groups. The administration-imposed Pentagon reporter restrictions citing mistrust of media withholding capabilities.
Geopolitical Ramifications and Regional Realignment
The operation's hemispheric implications extend beyond Venezuela. Colombia mobilized border forces anticipating refugee flows, while Guyana—facing Venezuelan territorial claims—maintained muted support. Cuba declared national mourning for the 32 personnel killed. Trump's threats against Colombia, Mexico, Iran, and renewed Greenland annexation discussions signaled a broader interventionist posture. Council on Geostrategy analysts noted implications for UK interests, including reduced Guyana invasion risk and oil market stabilization, while highlighting "the era of coercion is back" and the "rules-based international order is over". The operation's success—Maduro's capture without U.S. casualties—demonstrated military superiority but established a dangerous precedent for resource-motivated interventions, potentially catalyzing similar actions by Russia and China while undermining U.S. credibility as a liberal internationalist leader.
Abhinav Raj is a Research Intern at NIICE. He is currently pursuing Ph. D. in Management from IIT Bombay, Powai, Maharashtra, India.
