Venezuela’s opposition has claimed that President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were not seized in a military operation but exited power through a negotiated arrangement. According to opposition figures, the alleged capture was part of a deal aimed at ensuring a controlled transition and avoiding further violence. Maduro and his wife were captured by an elite force of U.S. troops in a military operation carried out in Caracas in the wee hours of 3 January 2026.