VENEZUELA
What the US capture of Maduro means for Brazil
Donald Trump oversees US military operations in Venezuela. In the background, a screen shows the White House monitoring posts made about Venezuela on X. Photo: Molly Riley/White House
Caracas awoke before dawn on Saturday to a sudden, high-intensity American military strike. US forces bombed targets in the Venezuelan capital and captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, removing them from the country to face charges in New York City.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi published an unsealed indictment detailing that Maduro and Flores had been indicted on charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy and weapons charges. They are set to appear before a New York judge at noon US Eastern time (2 pm in Brasília). In Caracas, the Venezuelan Supreme Court ordered Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to take office as interim head of state.
👉 Why it matters. The US operation puts strain on Brazil’s ambition to be a regional mediator, at a weak moment for bodies such as Mercosur and the Organization of American States. It also increases the threat level of electoral interference and digital destabilization ahead of Brazil’s general elections later this year, concerns that have intensified since Trump returned to office.
The implications for Venezuela and the region as a whole will be addressed in tomorrow’s LatAm Report. Today, we’re focusing on how the US’s actions in Venezuela affect Brazil — both domestically and abroad…
🔒 This was a free preview; the rest is behind our paywall
Don’t miss out! Upgrade to unlock full access. The process takes only seconds with Apple Pay or Stripe. Become a member.
Why you should subscribe
We’re here for readers who want to truly understand Brazil and Latin America — a region too often ignored or misrepresented by the international media.
Since 2017, our reporting has been powered by paid subscribers. They’re the reason we can keep a full-time team of journalists across Brazil and Argentina, delivering sharp, independent coverage every day.
If you value our work, subscribing is the best way to keep it going — and growing.
DEMOCRACY
A 360º Guide to Brazil’s Democracy (2025 Edition)
A must-read guide to understand how Brazil confronted authoritarian threats, strengthened its institutions and reached a historic democratic turning point in 2025.
Interested in advertising with us? Get in touch.
Need a special report? We can do it.
Have an idea for an article or column? Pitch us
