U.S. Captures Maduro, Secures Venezuelan Oil, Challenging China's Latin America Influence

In early January 2026, U.S. special forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, leading to the installation of his deputy, Delcy Rodríguez, as interim leader under U.S. oversight. The U.S. aims to secure Venezuelan oil, with plans to take 30 million barrels, impacting global energy markets and challenging China's influence in Latin America. The move has sparked geopolitical shifts, with China reassessing its regional ambitions. Trump's aggressive foreign policy and domestic risks accompany these developments amid mixed international reactions.