US plans to run Venezuela and tap its oil reserves, President Donald Trump said, hours after a military operation removed President Nicolas Maduro from power. Trump said the United States would run the country at least temporarily and sell large amounts of oil to other nations.

The action followed an intensive Trump administration pressure campaign against Venezuela and its leader. It also followed months of secret planning. The operation marked the most assertive US action to achieve regime change since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Legal experts quickly raised questions about whether the operation was lawful.

Trump spoke to reporters hours after Maduro was captured. He said the United States would use the leadership void to fix Venezuela’s oil infrastructure. He said the US would then sell large amounts of oil to other countries.

Maduro and his wife were seized overnight by US Special Forces. They were captured in or near one of their safe houses on a military base. After the seizure, they were taken aboard a US warship. The transfer was part of their move to face prosecution in the United States.

Maduro is accused in a US Justice Department indictment. The indictment alleges he took part in a narco-terrorism conspiracy. Trump later posted a photo on social media showing Maduro aboard the USS Iwo Jima. In the image, Maduro is wearing a sweatsuit and a blindfold.

A plane carrying the deposed leader landed late Saturday afternoon at Stewart International Airport in New York. This was Sunday morning AEDT. Video footage showed several US personnel boarding the aircraft after it touched down. The personnel were wearing FBI and other official apparel.

Trump’s remarks outlined plans to exploit the leadership vacuum in Venezuela. He did not say how long the United States would run the country. Officials also did not release details about the next steps or the timing of court proceedings.

The operation ended Maduro’s hold on power and moved him into US custody. The Trump administration said the action followed months of pressure and planning, bringing a sudden end to his rule.

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