The United States has captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife on January 3, 2026, on charges of narco-terrorism. US President Donald Trump announced the operation, stating it was a large-scale strike. Venezuela has been experiencing economic and political hardship under Maduro's leadership, despite possessing vast oil reserves. The article suggests that a fatal policy decision, potentially related to over-reliance on oil exports and socialist government policies, contributed to the nation's decline.