Nicolás Maduro Moros is a Venezuelan politician who served as President of Venezuela since 2013. Maduro rose through union leadership and government ranks and succeeded Hugo Chávez, maintaining the ruling United Socialist Party’s socialist policies.
His tenure has been marked by economic collapse, deep social unrest, accusations of corruption, and international sanctions, particularly by the United States and European nations. Human rights organisations and independent investigators have accused his administration of serious abuses over many years.
Maduro’s government faced contested elections, widespread protests, and declining legitimacy among both Venezuelans and foreign observers before the current crisis.
In early January 2026, US military forces conducted a large-scale operation in Venezuela, including airstrikes, which US officials say led to the capture of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who were taken into US custody.
Former US leaders, including Donald Trump, have declared that Maduro will face legal charges in the United States related to narco-terrorism and drug trafficking, and have signaled an intention to exert temporary control over Venezuelan governance and oil infrastructure.
The operation has provoked strong international responses some governments condemn US action as a violation of sovereignty and international law, while others call for peaceful transitions and respect for legal norms. Venezuela’s interim authorities are demanding proof of life and maintaining that Maduro remains the legitimate president.
On this edition of India Today Global, Geeta Mohan examines the shifting global alliances as US President Donald Trump’s 'confrontational trade and foreign policies' push traditional allies toward China. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has arrived in Beijing for a three-day visit to revive economic engagement, marking the first such trip by a UK leader since 2018. The programme also highlights India’s growing diplomatic footprint as New Delhi prepares to host over 10 Arab foreign ministers for the second India-Arab Foreign Ministers Meeting on January 30-31. Discussions are expected to cover regional stability, the Palestinian issue, and the launch of the India and Arab Countries Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, the report covers the strengthening of India-Canada energy ties during India Energy Week in Goa and the escalating tensions between the Trump administration and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney over tariff threats and economic sovereignty following the US capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
On this edition of India Today Global, Geeta Mohan examines the shifting global alliances as US President Donald Trump’s 'confrontational trade and foreign policies' push traditional allies toward China. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has arrived in Beijing for a three-day visit to revive economic engagement, marking the first such trip by a UK leader since 2018. The programme also highlights India’s growing diplomatic footprint as New Delhi prepares to host over 10 Arab foreign ministers for the second India-Arab Foreign Ministers Meeting on January 30-31. Discussions are expected to cover regional stability, the Palestinian issue, and the launch of the India and Arab Countries Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, the report covers the strengthening of India-Canada energy ties during India Energy Week in Goa and the escalating tensions between the Trump administration and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney over tariff threats and economic sovereignty following the US capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
On this Special Report, the focus is on the high-stakes diplomatic engagement between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Following their hour-long meeting, Zelenskyy expressed optimism about an upcoming trilateral summit in the UAE involving the US, Russia, and Ukraine, stating, 'I think that trilateral meetings maybe will show each other variants' regarding unresolved territorial issues in eastern Ukraine. While Zelenskyy criticised European leaders for their perceived inaction and highlighted the disparity between the legal pursuit of Nicolas Maduro and Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump remained hopeful of a swift resolution. Trump asserted that a settlement is coming 'very soon,' noting that 'everyone wants the war to end.' The programme examines the shift in geopolitical dynamics during Trump’s second term and the potential for these first-of-their-kind trilateral negotiations to finally broker a peace deal after nearly four years of conflict.
On this special report, the focus is on United States President Donald Trump’s address at Davos, where he announced the formal establishment of the 'Board of Peace'. Trump declared himself the founding chairman of this international body, which he claims will work in conjunction with the United Nations to resolve global conflicts. During his speech, he made the significant claim that 'In another great victory for the ultimate goal of peace in June, we obliterated Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity with Operation Midnight Hammer.' He further detailed his administration's efforts in Gaza, claiming the release of all living hostages and the delivery of record humanitarian aid. Trump also highlighted his military and economic achievements, including securing 5 percent GDP defense spending commitments from NATO allies and the capture of Nicolas Maduro. The programme examines the implications of this new organization and Trump's 'America First' approach to global security and energy dominance.
This report covers the escalating maritime tensions in the Caribbean as United States military forces seized the motor vessel Sagitta, the seventh sanctioned oil tanker linked to Venezuela to be intercepted. The operation is part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to exert control over South American oil resources and enforce a strict naval quarantine. According to the report, the vessel was apprehended 'without any incident' while operating in defiance of the established blockade. The programme highlights the impact of 'Operation Southern Sphere', a military initiative launched in September 2025 that led to significant action against the former Maduro government. With Dulce Rodriguez now in place following the ousting of Nicolas Maduro, the US Navy continues to maintain a blockade around the Venezuelan coast. The administration has signaled that no tankers will be permitted to enter or leave without US military authorization, reinforcing a policy aimed at dominating the regional oil trade and ensuring Latin America remains within the US sphere of influence.
On this India Today special report, Rick Sanchez, host of 'Journalistically Speaking', joins from Moscow to analyse the escalating tensions involving the US, Iran, and Venezuela. Sanchez characterises the current unrest in Iran as a 'color revolution' orchestrated by Western influences and Mossad to facilitate regime change. He states, 'It's obviously an action by the United States to try and create conditions in Iran so that they can then, at the behest of Bibi Netanyahu and the Israeli government, bomb Iran.' Sanchez further discusses the 'kidnapping' of the Venezuelan President and Donald Trump's 25% tariffs, arguing these moves are driven by a desire to control global energy supplies. He highlights the domestic instability in the US, noting that citizen protests against ICE agents are more significant than those in Tehran. Finally, he suggests that a growing triad of India, China, and Russia remains the primary force capable of resisting US economic and military hegemony in the global energy market.
On this Special Report, the focus is on the structural differences between theocratic and autocratic regimes as tensions rise in Iran. The Unidentified speaker explains that unlike a standard dictatorship, Iran's system under Ayatollah Ali Khamenei derives its legitimacy from religious ideology, making regime change more complex. The speaker notes, 'In Iran, religious doctrine has become the state law and dissent is branded as going against religion.' The report highlights how the 1979 revolution fused faith and politics, allowing the regime to suppress dissent by invoking religion-based laws. By comparing the situation to Nicolas Maduro’s rule in Venezuela, the programme examines why previous protest movements, including those in 2009 and 2022, faced significant counter-mobilisation from supporters of the theocracy. The analysis questions whether the current climate in 2026 presents a different challenge to the supreme leader's ultimate political and religious authority.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a telephonic conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Both the leaders discussed a broad agenda including trade, critical minerals, nuclear cooperation, defense, and energy.
On this special report, a leading political scientist and head of a major geopolitical risk firm analyses the global storm following a hypothetical US raid in Caracas that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The speaker claims, 'The United States is embracing the law of the jungle,' and is unilaterally walking away from the global order it created. The report delves into the concept of a 'GZERO' world, where raw power trumps rules, and the potential for other nations like Russia and China to be emboldened. The analyst also discusses the strategic implications for India, which is seen as being in a 'strategically quite strong position' due to its consistent leadership and diverse international partnerships, contrasting it with a weakened Europe and an unpredictable United States.
India Today special report 'New Year Old Wounds' covers multiple geopolitical conflicts at the start of 2026. In Venezuela, following the capture of Nicolas Maduro by US forces, President Donald Trump stated, 'We're in charge'. The focus then shifts to rising tensions over Greenland, which President Trump says the US must have for strategic reasons.
This special report from India Today Explains delves into a tumultuous start to 2026, beginning with the dramatic US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The bulletin questions the motives behind the strike: 'Is this purely about Maduro or are Venezuela's vast resources also a factor? Is this ultimately all about oil?' The programme also decodes Donald Trump's renewed interest in purchasing Greenland for strategic national security reasons, particularly to counter Russian and Chinese influence in the Arctic. Domestically, the focus shifts to the high-stakes BMC elections in Mumbai, delayed for years and significant due to the corporation's massive budget. Finally, the show marks 1000 years since Mahmud of Ghazni's raid on the Somnath temple, exploring its history and the political controversy surrounding its reconstruction, involving figures like Nehru, Sardar Patel, and Rajendra Prasad.
Following the apprehension of Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces, former President Donald Trump announced a strategic partnership for American companies to rebuild Venezuela's oil industry. At a White House press conference with executives from firms like Chevron, ExxonMobil, and ConocoPhillips, Trump outlined a plan for at least $100 billion in private investment to restore the nation's dilapidated energy infrastructure. The proposal includes providing security guarantees to the corporations, which are expected to recoup their investments quickly before profits are divided among the companies, the U.S., and Venezuela. This initiative aims to lower U.S. energy prices, integrate the two economies, and serve as a national security measure to counter Russian and Chinese influence in the Western Hemisphere. While some executives expressed readiness to invest pending stable frameworks, others remained non-committal.
On this Special Report, the focus is on US Vice President J.D. Vance’s dismissal of reports suggesting a rift within the administration regarding the recent operation in Venezuela. Addressing a White House press conference, Vance refuted claims that he and Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) Chief Tulsi Gabbard were excluded from the planning stages of the mission to capture Nicolas Maduro. Vance stated, 'One, that I was kept out of the planning for the Venezuela operation, that's false. And another, that Tulsi was kept out of the planning for Venezuela operations, that's completely false.' He emphasised that the operation was kept 'very tight' among senior cabinet officials to maintain secrecy. The Vice President’s remarks come after a Bloomberg report suggested Gabbard’s past non-interventionist stance led to her being sidelined. Vance clarified that Gabbard played a crucial role in overseeing the intelligence flow from the ODNI to the President, confirming the administration's unified front during the high-stakes operation.
In this episode of India First, anchor Gaurav Sawant covers major developments in West Bengal and Delhi. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at the I-PAC office and the residence of chief Pratik Jain, investigating money laundering linked to the coal scam. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee allegedly intervened by removing a hard disk and documents, which the ED claims obstructed justice. The broadcast also reports on the court-mandated demolition drive at Delhi’s Turkman Gate near the Faiz-e-Ilahi mosque, where police arrested 11 individuals for stone-pelting and spreading misinformation. Petitioner Preet Sirohi and representatives from BJP and Samajwadi Party debate the legality and timing of the demolition, with BJP spokesperson Charu Pragya defending due process. The episode further addresses global tensions, including the US interception of a Russian-flagged oil tanker and commentary from former Ambassador Yash Sinha on the collapse of the rules-based international order and the US approach following the alleged abduction of Venezuelan President Maduro.
In a major escalation, the United States has seized two Venezuelan oil tankers, including a Russian-flagged vessel, in the North Atlantic. US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth confirmed the operation, stating that the 'blockade of sanctioned Venezuelan oil is on and in full effect'. Secretary of State Marco Rubio outlined a plan to sell between 30 and 50 million barrels of the seized oil to benefit the Venezuelan people. India Today's Rohit Sharma analyses President Trump's 'America First' strategy behind the move.
In this India Today Special Report, anchor Preeti Choudhry discusses the emerging 'Donro Doctrine' with experts including former Ambassador Navtej Sarna and David Goldwyn. The panel analyses President Trump’s reported military action in Venezuela and his threat to buy Greenland. David Goldwyn argues that while Trump is 'flexing worldwide his power', a US President 'does not have the power to appropriate new territories'. Ambassador Sarna warns that Trump is 'playing out in practice the Donro Doctrine' and showing he is the 'boss in the Western Hemisphere'. The programme explores the collapse of the global order and the implications for India.
The United States has seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker 'Marinera' linked to Venezuela in the North Atlantic. Formerly known as 'Bella 1', the vessel was intercepted under the US 'Operation Southern Spear' blockade against Venezuela.
In this Special Report, India Today's Pranay Upadhyay details the US seizure of the Russian-flagged tanker 'Marinera' (formerly 'Bella 1') in the North Atlantic. US President Donald Trump praised the operation, stating, 'It's not about drugs, it's about oil,' and vowed to rebuild Venezuela's oil facilities. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth confirmed the blockade is 'taking effect.' The report analyzes the geopolitical tensions between Washington and Moscow.
In this edition of India Today Global, renowned economist Professor Jeffrey D Sachs examines the escalating crisis in Venezuela following the capture of Nicolás Maduro by the US military on Saturday.
This report by the unidentified speaker examines the global fallout following the United States military operation in Venezuela, which led to the capture of Nicolas Maduro. The unidentified speaker highlights that US President Donald Trump has lauded the mission as a 'brilliant' tactical success, explicitly stating that the intervention was 'all about oil' rather than narcotics. Trump further committed to rebuilding Venezuela's oil infrastructure while labelling Maduro a 'violent man.' The transcript also details the US administration's strategic focus on Greenland, which Trump has declared a national security priority due to the presence of Russian and Chinese vessels in the Arctic. However, the unidentified speaker notes a unified pushback from European allies, including the UK, France, and Germany, alongside Canada. These nations have issued a joint statement asserting Greenland's sovereignty and warning that any attempt to seize control would threaten NATO's security. The programme emphasises that the international community remains committed to territorial integrity and the rules of international law amidst these mounting geopolitical tensions.
