- Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were seized by U.S. forces during a pre-dawn operation in Caracas, Venezuela
- The mission sparked international attention and controversy. Venezuelan and Cuban security personnel, as well as other individuals
- The U.S. government has continued to defend the action as part of its wider strategy against drug trafficking and organised crime
United States President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet on Friday with members of the U.S. special forces unit responsible for the operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro earlier this year.
According to the White House, Eko Hot Blog gathered that Trump will be joined by First Lady Melania Trump when they visit the Fort Bragg military base in North Carolina to greet the troops involved in the mission.
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Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were seized by U.S. forces during a pre-dawn operation in Caracas, Venezuela, on January 3, 2026.
The complex military action, dubbed Operation Absolute Resolve, involved U.S. special operations soldiers supported by extensive airpower and intelligence assets, and led to Maduro being taken into U.S. custody.
The mission sparked international attention and controversy. Venezuelan and Cuban security personnel, as well as other individuals, were reportedly killed in the fighting, with estimates from U.S. officials putting the death toll in the dozens.
Maduro and Flores were flown to the United States shortly after their capture. They appeared in federal court in New York in early January, where both pleaded not guilty to charges including drug trafficking and narco-terrorism, and are currently awaiting further proceedings.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the visit will allow the president and first lady to meet with service members, their families, and others who participated in the successful operation that brought Maduro into custody.
The U.S. government has continued to defend the action as part of its wider strategy against drug trafficking and organised crime, even as critics and some international bodies have raised legal and diplomatic questions about the operation.
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