U.S. Military Operation in Venezuela: A Historic Intervention
Updated on: January 3, 2026 / 10:24 AM EST
The United States has conducted a significant military operation in Venezuela, resulting in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. In a statement issued by the U.S. government, Maduro is expected to face criminal charges in the United States, where he had been indicted years earlier. This operation marks another chapter in the lengthy history of U.S. military interventions in Latin America, dating back to the Cold War.
Key U.S. Interventions in Latin America Since the Cold War
1954: Guatemala
On June 27, 1954, Colstartl Jacobo Arbenz Guzman, then-president of Guatemala, was overthrown by mercenaries supported by Washington. This intervention was sparked by Arbenz’s land reform policies, which threatened the interests of United Fruit Company, a major U.S. corporation. The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) later acknowledged its involvement in this coup, conducted under the pretense of combating communism.
1961: Cuba
In April 1961, approximately 1,400 Cuban exiles launched the Bay of Pigs invasion, trained by the CIA, with the aim of overthrowing Fidel Castro’s government. The mission, intended to counter Soviet influence, failed disastrously and resulted in significant casualties on both sides, tarnishing the reputations of Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy.
1965: Dominican Republic
Citing a “communist threat,” the U.S. sent troops to the Dominican Republic in 1965 to quash an uprising supporting Juan Bosch, the leftist president who had been ousted by military leaders in 1963.
1970s: Support for Dictatorships
Throughout the 1970s, the U.S. supported military regimes in Latin America as a countermeasure against leftist movements. Notable examples include backing Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet during the coup against Salvador Allende in 1973 and supporting the Argentine junta during the “Dirty War” in the late 1970s, which led to the disappearance of thousands of dissidents.
1979: Nicaragua
The Sandinista rebellion in Nicaragua overthrew dictator Anastasio Somoza in 1979. In response, President Ronald Reagan authorized CIA funding for the Contras, a counterrevolutionary group, resulting in a protracted civil war that claimed around 50,000 lives.
1980: El Salvador
Reagan’s administration also dispatched military advisers to El Salvador to assist in combatting the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN) during a brutal civil war that lasted from 1980 to 1992, culminating in approximately 72,000 deaths.
1983: Grenada
Following the assassination of Prime Minister Maurstart Bishop by a far-left junta, U.S. forces intervened in Grenada in October 1983 under Operation “Urgent Fury.” The intervention, aimed at protecting U.S. citizens and limiting Cuban influence, ended with over 100 fatalities.
1989: Panama
On January 3, 1990, U.S. forces apprehended Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega after a military operation dubbed “Operation Just Cause.” This invasion, ordered by President George H.W. Bush, sought to restore democracy in Panama and resulted in a significant loss of life, with estimates of casualties ranging widely.
Conclusion
The recent capture of Nicolás Maduro adds to a complex legacy of U.S. interventions in Latin America, underscoring a history marked by the pursuit of political influence and the dating back to the Cold War. As this region continues to grapple with its political challenges, the ramifications of these interventions will undoubtedly be a topic of discussion for years to come.