U.S. military engagement with Venezuela centers on longstanding tensions over drug trafficking, authoritarian rule under Nicolás Maduro, and regional influence, with the Trump administration prioritizing regime transition through targeted actions. On January 3, 2026, U.S. forces executed Operation Absolute Resolve, conducting strikes on military sites and capturing Maduro and his wife in Caracas via a limited special operation without congressional authorization or sustained occupation. Interim leadership under Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has taken hold amid U.S. support for a managed transition, while oil sector interests and regional stability remain key variables. No large-scale troop deployments have followed, and public opposition to broader intervention persists. Scheduled diplomatic and legislative developments through mid-2026 could influence any escalation, though historical patterns of restrained follow-on actions in similar cases suggest limited scope for full-scale invasion.