The U.S. military conducted limited airstrikes and a targeted raid in Venezuela on January 3, 2026, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife amid charges of narcotics trafficking and regime ties. This operation, framed by the Trump administration as a law-enforcement action rather than a broader conflict, avoided large-scale ground forces, sustained occupation, or declarations under the War Powers Resolution. Trader sentiment has centered on whether these events satisfied the market’s definition of an “invasion” by the specified deadline, with the outcome hinging on procedural resolution criteria rather than ongoing military escalation. No additional U.S. deployments or major diplomatic shifts have followed in the subsequent months, keeping focus on verification of the January events and any potential late adjustments to sanctions or regional policy.