ZeroFox Intelligence Flash Report - Implications of Removing Venezuelan President Maduro

ZeroFox Intelligence Flash Report - Implications of Removing Venezuelan President Maduro

Product Serial: F-2026-01-05a

TLP:CLEAR

In this Flash report, ZeroFox researchers focus on the implications of the forced removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, including the prospect of further interventions in the region and potential supply chain disruptions.

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Key Findings

• On January 2, 2026, a U.S. joint military operation removed Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro by force, transporting him to a New York detention center to face charges of drug-trafficking. In the short to medium term, the U.S. State Department will likely forge relationships with the existing members of the Maduro government. The outcome will very likely include the Venezuelan government abiding by U.S. demands in exchange for remaining in power.
• Ahead of the operation, the Trump administration made clear that criminal and narcotrafficking groups were a national security risk towards the United States and that the U.S. military would be prioritizing the Americas region while deprioritizing its commitments elsewhere.
• The removal of President Maduro makes it more likely that there will be further U.S. military operations against nations with adversarial relationships with the United States, close military relations with either Russia or China (particularly if they are in the Western Hemisphere), or valuable energy resources.
• There are unlikely to be major supply chain impacts from the operation, as Venezuela has few ties to international markets and Maduro’s removal is therefore unlikely to impact global economic growth or contribute to inflation. Over the long term, the operation is likely to lead to increased access to Venezuela’s oil and mineral reserves.