US detains Venezuelan president and his wife, declares national emergency after attack

Washington (The Uttam Hindu): US President Donald Trump has issued his first reaction following Saturday's attacks in Venezuela. Trump has claimed that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife are in US custody.

US President Trump wrote on Truth Social, "The United States has launched a major attack against Venezuela. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has been captured and taken out of the country, along with his wife." Venezuela's Defense Minister said, "The National Armed Forces of the Bolivarian Republic inform the world that early this morning, January 3rd, the country of Venezuela was targeted by the most criminal military attack by the United States government." Following the attack, a national emergency has been declared in Venezuela.

In fact, this entire matter is related to drug trafficking. The US has repeatedly warned Venezuela of major action. The US also took action in the Caribbean Sea. To increase pressure, the US recently imposed sanctions on Venezuelan oil companies and their associated ships. The US has consistently alleged that Venezuela is shipping drugs into the US on a large scale. The Trump administration has even directly accused President Nicolas Maduro.

Furthermore, Trump froze all assets of President Maduro and his family in the US. The US has long been accused of interfering and influencing Venezuelan politics. Meanwhile, oil is a major source of tension between the two countries. In fact, in 1976, the Venezuelan government nationalized the oil industry, after which all operations of foreign oil companies came under the state-owned company, Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA).

This move by the Venezuelan government has exacerbated US concerns. It has significantly complicated the process of extracting oil from Venezuela. This is one of the reasons for the long-standing tensions between the US and Venezuela.