Regime Alive Despite Leadership Capture, Venezuelan System Persists

Venezuela’s political regime appears to remain functional despite the capture of President Nicolás Maduro by United States forces, with the vice-president and other government officials continuing to operate. The Saturday military operation has removed the top leader but not necessarily dismantled the system he led.
Dr. Carlos Solar from RUSI noted that the regime proves to be alive even without Maduro, with civilian members of the former president’s entourage still in positions of authority. This resilience raises fundamental questions about whether the American military operation will achieve its apparent goal of transforming Venezuelan politics.
The pattern mirrors the transition from Hugo Chávez to Maduro, when the founding leader’s death did not end the Chavista movement but simply transferred it to new leadership for another decade and a half. Solar suggested that Maduro’s removal might similarly result in new figures emerging to lead what remains of the government structure.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi has announced that Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores will face drug trafficking charges in New York, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirming the charges relate to narcotics operations. President Trump stated the couple is currently aboard a ship being transported to the United States for prosecution.
The international community has responded with widespread condemnation, with UN Secretary General António Guterres warning of dangerous precedents. Major powers including China, Russia, and European nations have criticized the operation, while Latin American responses have split along ideological lines. Colombia has mobilized its armed forces in anticipation of refugee flows, highlighting immediate practical challenges created by the intervention.