Jan 3, 2026: The U.S. military executes a decapitation strike on the Maduro regime, citing the "Donroe Doctrine".
Throughout late 2025, economic collapse drove Venezuela's oil production down to 900k bpd. The U.S. declared the "Donroe Doctrine," asserting absolute dominance in the hemisphere.
Between Sep 2025 and Jan 2026, the U.S. conducted 32 precursor strikes in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, aiming to degrade Venezuelan coastal defenses.
Operation Absolute Resolve begins. A task force of 150+ aircraft, including the 160th SOAR, penetrates Venezuelan airspace.
U.S. Delta Force and FBI HRT units target key leadership nodes in Caracas. 80+ casualties reported, including 32 Cuban intelligence officers.
Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores are captured in Caracas. They are immediately extracted and transported to the Southern District of New York.
They face indictments for narco-terrorism and cocaine importation conspiracy. This marks the first capture of a sitting head of state by U.S. forces since 1989.
Post-strike, the U.S. establishes a 15,000-troop presence in the Caribbean. A naval "quarantine" is enforced to block illicit oil tankers.
Oil exports to China (which previously absorbed 85% of crude) are effectively severed. Delcy Rodríguez is named interim president, adhering to U.S. demands.
Following the intervention and TPS termination, northbound migration to the U.S. drops by 93%.
Displaced populations (7.7 million total) now largely settle in Colombia and Brazil. The region faces a $763M humanitarian funding gap.