Can the U.S. ‘run’ Venezuela? What the law says about Maduro’s arrest

FULL NOTES: Trump says US will ‘rule’ Venezuela after Maduro takes over

The USA carried out a large-scale assault in Venezuela early Saturday. President Donald Trump mentioned the nation’s chief, Nicolás Maduro, and his spouse Cilia Flores had been captured and flown in another country. President Trump addressed the nation throughout a press convention on the arrest of Venezuelan President Maduro. US Secretary of Conflict Pete Hegseth additionally commented on the occasions.

The US assault on Venezuela and the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro despatched shockwaves all over the world, elevating critical questions on whether or not the aggression violated worldwide legislation.

After months of navy motion within the area, U.S. forces launched greater than 150 plane — together with bombers, fighter jets, surveillance planes, helicopters and drones — from 20 bases within the Western Hemisphere on Saturday evening, in accordance with Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers. Maduro and his spouse, Cilia Flores, had been taken by warship to New York, the place they may face narco-terrorism conspiracy prices.

President Donald Trump mentioned this on Saturday the US will ‘rule’ Venezuela, not less than briefly, and faucet its huge oil reserves to promote to different international locations.

Live updates: Trump says US will ‘rule’ Venezuela after Maduro is conquered

Was it authorized?

Dig deeper:

The assault in Venezuela goes past even essentially the most high-profile historic examples of aggressive U.S. actions towards autocratic governments in Panama, Iraq and past, authorized consultants say.

MORE: Who is Nicolas Maduro? Venezuelan president captured by US forces

In keeping with The New York TimesMaduro’s imprisonment seems to be a violation of the United Nations Constitution, a treaty ratified by the USA.

Supporters of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro carrying a nationwide flag and his portrait collect within the streets of Caracas on January 3, 2026, after US forces captured him. (Photograph by Federico PARRA/AFP through Getty Photos)

The constitution states {that a} nation might not use power on the sovereign territory of one other nation with out approval from the UN Safety Council, until the motion was in self-defense. When the US makes use of power with out UN approval, it usually has the consent of the host authorities and a declare to self-defense.

Trump mentioned a helicopter was hit and a few U.S. service members had been injured, however no People had been killed and no U.S. planes had been destroyed. It’s nonetheless unclear what number of members of the Venezuelan navy had been killed.

What they are saying:

“That is clearly a blatant, unlawful and felony act,” Jimmy Gurule, a professor at Notre Dame Legislation College and a former assistant U.S. lawyer, informed the Related Press.

The federal government has carried out 35 boat assaults on ships round Venezuela since September, killing greater than 115 individuals.

Michael Schmitt, a former Air Pressure lawyer and professor emeritus on the US Naval Conflict Faculty, mentioned the whole operation – the boat assaults and Maduro’s arrest – are a transparent violation of worldwide legislation.

“Legal professionals name it a world armed battle,” Schmitt mentioned. “Laymen name it battle. So legally we at the moment are at battle with Venezuela as a result of the usage of hostilities between two states clearly creates an inside armed battle.”

Was Congress notified?

Congress has broad authority to authorize or restrict the president’s battle powers, nevertheless it has not performed so in Venezuela both, even after Trump successfully declared that drug trafficking into the US quantities to an armed battle requiring the usage of navy power. That is a brand new motive for previous and future actions.

Trump: US oil companies will invest in Venezuela

President Donald Trump mentioned on Saturday that the USA will likely be closely concerned in Venezuela’s oil trade, suggesting that American firms will make investments billions of {dollars} within the nation’s power sector following the seize of Nicolás Maduro. The Council on International Relations’ Will Freeman joins LiveNOW’s Christina Evans to interrupt down the most recent on US-Venezuela tensions.

Congressional leaders of the “Gang of Eight,” which incorporates Home and Senate leaders of each political events, in addition to lawmakers who lead the intelligence committees, weren’t knowledgeable of the operation till after it had begun. Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned that due to the character of the shock operation, it was not one thing that may very well be shared with lawmakers prematurely.

What’s subsequent:

Home Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., mentioned the administration is “planning briefings” for lawmakers after they return to Washington subsequent week.

The Senate can also be anticipated to vote on a bipartisan battle powers decision that will block the usage of U.S. troops towards Venezuela until Congress authorizes it.

When was the final time this occurred?

The backstory:

Maduro’s arrest comes precisely 36 years after US forces captured Panama strongman Manuel Noriega, the final time the US took such extraordinary motion in Latin America. The US invaded Panama in 1989 to arrest Noriega on drug trafficking prices.

Trump: No Americans were killed in Maduro’s capture

President Donald Trump defined on Saturday that no People had been killed within the assaults on Venezuela that led to the arrest of Venezuelan chief Nicolas Maduro. LiveNOW’s Josh Breslow spoke with Mark Cancian at CSIS to clarify the most recent information.

In Panama, nonetheless, US nationwide safety pursuits such because the Panama Canal had been at stake, together with the protection of US residents and US navy installations within the nation. And opposition candidate Guillermo Endara was instantly sworn in as president of Panama, with out direct occupation by the USA. The New York Times experiences.