The Telegraph: US has no plans for Venezuela's future

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has no concrete plan for Venezuela’s future after the ousting of President Nicolás Maduro, sources familiar with his thinking told The Telegraph.

“There is no plan, no instructions for the future,” one of the sources said. According to him, policy will be developed “on the go,” on a “day-by-day” basis.

Despite Trump’s public statements that the U.S. “will run the country” until a “safe transition,” the details of this plan remain unclear.

The Telegraph notes that a Venezuela task force has been formally established, but its powers and responsibilities have not been defined. Concern is growing in Congress, especially among Democrats, over the administration’s lack of a clear vision, the publication adds.

This week, the Senate will consider a resolution limiting U.S. military action in Venezuela without congressional approval.

In a highly controversial and unprecedented military operation on January 3, 2026, U.S. forces launched a large‑scale strike against Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The operation involved precision attacks on key locations in Caracas and the deployment of elite U.S. military and special forces units. Maduro was seized and transported to the United States, where he was swiftly charged with serious criminal offences.

According to official statements by the U.S. administration, Maduro faces narcotics and weapons charges, including accusations of drug trafficking, narco‑terrorism, and conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States. At his initial appearance in federal court in Manhattan, Maduro pleaded not guilty, asserted that he had been “kidnapped,” and insisted that he remains the legitimate president of Venezuela. His wife also entered a not‑guilty plea.

The U.S. government has framed the intervention as part of its broader efforts against international drug trafficking networks and as a step toward restoring order and democratic governance in Venezuela.

By Khagan Isayev