Capturing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro would be a “hollow victory” if his regime remained in power, according to John Bolton, former national security adviser to President Donald Trump.
Newsweek reached out to political analysts via email on Monday night for comment.
Why It Matters
The capture of Maduro by U.S. forces represents a significant shift in American foreign policy toward Venezuela and underscores the geopolitical complexity of the region.
The developments highlight potential uncertainty surrounding tensions among major international stakeholders, affecting U.S. relations with Russia, China and Cuba, and raises questions about the direction of U.S. engagement in Latin America.
What To Know
Maduro was apprehended during a U.S. military operation in Caracas alongside wife Cilia Flores over the weekend. Both face charges in a New York City federal court, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy and weapons offenses. During his arraignment, Maduro pleaded not guilty, insisting on his innocence and asserting that he remains the president of Venezuela. Flores also pleaded not guilty and was reported to have suffered injuries during the capture.
Following Maduro’s removal, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was declared acting president, as several Maduro-aligned officials, including Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino and National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez, are in power in Caracas as well.
In an interview with NBC News on Monday, Trump said Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been in contact with Rodríguez.
In an interview with NewsNation following Maduro’s capture, Bolton said: “I’m delighted that we’ve grabbed Maduro, I wish we’d done it back in 2019.”
He added, “Let’s be clear, there’s a big difference between getting Maduro and removing the regime. Right now, facts are scarce, that’s for sure, but the regime is still in power.” Bolton continued to note Trump’s swipe at Nobel Peace Prize winner and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.
“I think there’s a lot of lack of clarity to say the least in Trump’s thinking on this, and it would be a hollow victory indeed if we snatched Maduro but left his regime in place,” Bolton said.
Trump’s former national security adviser added that he doesn’t necessarily have a problem with the president previously saying the U.S. would run Venezuela in the interim as long as he has a plan for executing such an endeavor.
What People Are Saying
Bolton, on X Monday: “The White House should recognize the opposition as the rightful leaders of Venezuela. The political legitimacy for the United States to execute this attack is supported when we go with the opposition, instead of reinstating the same group that has ruled as dictators over the country for 30 years, coordinated with our enemies to make Venezuela the hub for terror in the Western Hemisphere, and waged narcoterrorism against the U.S..”
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, on X Monday: “As of this evening, the Trump Administration has now given 20 bipartisan briefings to Congress on Venezuela alone. Today’s briefing confirmed that the successful capture of narco-terrorist dictator Maduro — who was sending deadly drugs and gang members into our country — was one of the most stunning displays of military might and competence in history. Our military professionals were safely in and out with speed, precision, power, and zero American casualties. This is about the safety, security, freedom, and prosperity of the American people. This is America First, and the definition of peace through strength.”
Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, on X Monday: “Democrats are focused on lowering costs for Americans, while Donald Trump and Republicans are spending all of their time on foreign wars, on ballrooms, and on private jets. How is this America first?”
What Happens Next
Maduro and his wife are being held in detention in Brooklyn pending their next court appearance scheduled for March 17.
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