Venezuelans Voice Anger at US Intervention in Oil-Rich Nation While Interim Leadership Promises Dialogue and Stability

Life in the capital has largely returned to normal nearly a month after a dramatic U.S. military operation on January 3 that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and their transfer to U.S. custody.

Shoppers are back in markets, public transport runs on schedule, and everyday routines have resumed across Caracas, ending the panic and empty shelves that marked the immediate aftermath of the operation. Despite this semblance of normalcy, the city’s walls are plastered with large portraits of Maduro and slogans such as “Freedom for Maduro,” “We Want You Back Among Us,” and “Resist Maduro.” Security remains tight around key buildings, including the Miraflores Presidential Palace, where soldiers and police conduct vehicle stops and identity checks.

Voices on the street reflect deep skepticism toward the U.S. action. Many Venezuelans interviewed by Anadolu attributed the operation to U.S. interests in Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, citing statements by U.S. officials about future control of energy resources. Some view the intervention as an infringement on national sovereignty. “Whether we are doing well or poorly, everyone has a sense of sovereignty in their own country,” said resident Hilda Lopez. “It cannot be through intervention or attack by others, because we are a free, independent country with a constitution.”

Critics of the domestic opposition also see its cooperation with foreign forces as damaging to national unity. “We have sadly realized that our opposition does not love the country,” said Jose Antonio Mendoza, calling the operation an outright theft tied to long‑standing oil interests. Another Caracas resident described the incident as a criminal attack driven by external oil ambitions.

Supporters of the ousted president remain active. Thousands gathered in Bolivar Square on Sunday to pray for Maduro’s release, while his son, lawmaker Nicolás Maduro Guerra, urged continued resistance and support until his father and Flores are freed. Meanwhile, hundreds of political prisoners have been released under the interim administration led by Delcy Rodríguez, but human rights groups say many remain incarcerated, and restrictions on freedom of expression persist.

Interim President Rodríguez has called for national dialogue and peace agreements with the opposition while resisting excessive U.S. pressure, reflecting ongoing political and ideological tensions within Venezuela’s evolving power structure.