US military strikes on January 3, 2026, captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife in a rapid operation involving airstrikes on military sites and extraction by special forces, following months of naval deployments targeting drug trafficking networks. The action, labeled Operation Absolute Resolve, was framed by the administration as a targeted law-enforcement measure rather than occupation, with limited ground presence and no sustained troop buildup since. Venezuela's acting leadership under Delcy Rodríguez has engaged in talks to restore diplomatic relations and lift certain oil sanctions, while the US emphasizes energy sector oversight and cartel disruption. Key variables for any further escalation remain congressional war-powers resolutions, oil infrastructure developments, and regional stability measures through mid-2026.