The Venezuelan Reset: Liberation or Overreach?
The real story isn’t unfolding in New York—it’s happening in the homes and neighborhoods of everyday Venezuelans
By Rene Lamah, Chief Editor, January 4, 2026
January 4, 2026 — Caracas, shaken. The world, stunned.
The dust hasn’t even settled in Venezuela’s capital, yet the aftershocks of “Absolute Resolve” are rippling across continents—from the corridors of Washington to the Kremlin’s cold silence. In a move that defies precedent and expectation, U.S. forces executed a swift and surgical operation, capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Now detained in New York on narco-terrorism charges, Maduro’s fall marks the abrupt end of the Bolivarian Revolution.
For those of us who’ve witnessed Venezuela’s long descent—from promise to paralysis—this moment is charged with contradiction. Relief, yes: the removal of a leader accused of brutal repression and economic ruin. But also unease. The sheer boldness of the operation forces us to confront uncomfortable truths about American reach, sovereignty, and the fragile scaffolding of international law.
The hemisphere holds its breath. Venezuela stands at a crossroads. And the global order, once again, feels rewritten overnight.
The Justification: A Necessary Evil?
Washington is framing this as a matter of long-overdue justice. Maduro wasn’t just a political opponent; he was a man with a U.S. indictment for narco-terrorism hanging over his head. The Trump administration is making it clear: this wasn’t about “regime change” for its own sake, but a high-stakes law enforcement action to dismantle what they’ve called a massive cocaine cartel.
Beyond the legal case, there’s the undeniable reality of the humanitarian crisis. Nearly eight million people have fled Venezuela since 2013, a staggering exodus that has destabilized the entire hemisphere. By taking out the “Cartel of the Suns,” the U.S. hopes to cut the ties between Latin American drug traffickers and hostile powers like Iran and Russia, who had found a willing partner in Maduro.
And then there’s the oil. President Trump, never one to mince words, has already talked about “getting the oil flowing again.” The promise is that American know-how can resurrect Venezuela’s shattered oil industry, a move that would, in theory, benefit both the global energy market and the long-suffering Venezuelan people.
The Fallout: A Pandora’s Box?
But as with any bold move on the world stage, the risks are immense. The operation was carried out without a formal declaration of war or a clear green light from Congress, pushing the War Powers Resolution to its absolute limit. Predictably, countries like China and North Korea are crying foul, calling it a “barbaric” breach of international law. Even at home, many in Congress are worried that “running the country” could easily morph into a costly and open-ended military occupation.
The power vacuum in Caracas is another immediate danger. While the Venezuelan Supreme Court has named Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as the acting president, the U.S. has been noncommittal about recognizing her authority. This sets the stage for a dangerous showdown, a “two-government” nightmare that could easily ignite a civil war or a protracted guerrilla insurgency.
And the President’s candid comments about oil have poured fuel on the fire. Critics are already screaming “imperialism,” arguing that this was never about democracy, but about securing Venezuela’s vast oil reserves for American interests.
The Human Stakes: What Comes Next?
Behind the headlines of “Operation Absolute Resolve” and the legal debates in New York, there are millions of Venezuelan families waking up to a world they no longer recognize. For them, this isn’t just a masterstroke of foreign policy or a case of geopolitical hubris—it’s a question of whether they can finally buy groceries without fear, or if they should prepare for a new kind of chaos.
If the U.S. can successfully walk the fine line of midwifing a transition to leaders like Edmundo González or María Corina Machado without overstaying its welcome, it could mean the end of a decade-long nightmare. It could mean a “new dawn” where children grow up in a democracy rather than a narco-state.
The echoes of past “mission accomplished” moments still hang heavy in the air. History has taught us how quickly triumph can sour when a nation overextends itself. If the United States ends up stuck in a drawn‑out occupation, or tries to reshape Venezuela from the inside out, what began as a bold act of liberation could just as easily become a painful, self‑inflicted mistake.
In the coming days and weeks, the real measure of success won’t be found in dramatic photos of Maduro in handcuffs. It will be measured in something far more intimate—the rhythm of daily life returning to Caracas. Can a mother walk her children to school without fear? Do neighbors gather in the plaza again to talk and laugh? When families sit down for dinner, do they speak with cautious hope, or do they still whisper, afraid of what tomorrow might bring?
The path forward remains treacherous and uncertain. While cable news focuses on courtroom theatrics in New York and politicians debate the geopolitics in Washington, the real story is unfolding far from the cameras. It’s happening in cramped apartments where families huddle around flickering televisions, trying to make sense of it all. In street markets where vendors wonder if things will finally get better—or worse. In the eyes of young people who’ve known nothing but crisis, now daring to imagine a different future.
This operation will ultimately be judged not by what happens in the halls of power, but by whether ordinary Venezuelans can finally live without fear, put food on their tables, and believe their country has a future worth staying for.
Note: This analysis reflects the situation as understood on January 4, 2026. DC Daily Letter will continue to monitor developments as this story unfolds.