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The Australian government has confirmed it is “monitoring developments in Venezuela” after the US military conducted a successful raid into the country, capturing alleged cartel leader and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese issued a political statement confirming “monitoring” and urging “all parties to support diplomacy” in response to the successful US raid under Operation Absolute Resolve. It is unknown if Australian Defence Force soldiers or intelligence agencies were involved in the US-led operation.
“We urge all parties to support dialogue and diplomacy in order to secure regional stability and prevent escalation,” Prime Minister Albanese said.
“Australia has long held concerns about the situation in Venezuela, including the need to respect democratic principles, human rights and fundamental freedoms.
“We continue to support international law and a peaceful, democratic transition in Venezuela that reflects the will of the Venezuelan people.”
US President Donald J Trump had previously announced the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro following a successful overnight joint US military extraction in Venezuela’s capital of Caracas.
“Last night and early today, at my direction, the United States Armed Forces conducted an extraordinary military operation in the capital of Venezuela,” he said in a news conference from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida.
“It was an operation against a heavily fortified military fortress in the heart of Caracas to bring outlaw dictator Nicolás Maduro to justice,” President Trump said
President Maduro is alleged to head Venezuela’s state-embedded criminal network Cartel de los Soles, which was declared a terror organisation by the US State Department in November 2025.
Both President Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores de Maduro, who was also apprehended, will now face criminal court proceedings tied to a 2020 indictment from the US Department of Justice on multiple federal charges, including narco-terrorism and drug trafficking.
Operation Absolute Resolve, the joint military and law enforcement mission to capture the Maduros was the result of months of planning and rehearsal involving US joint forces, including special operations forces from multiple service branches.
The military also reportedly networked extensively with multiple US intelligence agencies.
“We have a group of people running (Venezuela) until such a time it can be put back on track, make a lot of money for (Venezuelans) … give people a great way of life and also (reimburse the) people in our country who were forced out of Venezuela,” US President Trump said.
