American "lightning strike" hits Venezuela directly: the United States will "manage" Venezuela until the implementation of a "secure" transition, and large American petroleum companies will go to Venezuela.

Global geopolitical turmoil continues, and in the early hours of January 3rd local time, the United States launched an airstrike in Venezuela. US President Trump later confirmed that the US had successfully carried out a large-scale attack, and Venezuelan President Maduro and his wife had been captured and taken out of the country. Then, at midnight on January 4th (Beijing time), a press conference was held at Mar-a-Lago to announce the details of the operation in Venezuela. Trump declared: Venezuela intercepted and sold "American oil." Trump stated that the Venezuelan oil embargo remains in effect, and "our future" is defined by the ability to protect commerce. The US retains all military options until their demands are met, and the fate of President Maduro may befall other individuals in Venezuela. The US will "manage" Venezuela until a "safe" transition takes place. According to Xinhua News Agency, on January 3rd, US President Trump stated that the US will "manage" Venezuela until a "safe" transition is implemented. On the 3rd, Trump said that if necessary, the US will launch a second, larger wave of attacks and has already prepared for such an attack. It may not be necessary to launch a second wave of attacks against Venezuela at this time. At 11:39 am local time on January 3rd, or 12:39 am on January 4th Beijing time, US President Trump and Defense Secretary Hagasest held a press conference at Mar-a-Lago in Florida on the US military action in Venezuela and the capture and removal of Venezuelan President Maduro. Trump: Major US oil companies will go to Venezuela. Trump began a press conference by stating that all military capabilities in Venezuela had been paralyzed, and the US will operate in Venezuela until a safe, reasonable, and "legitimate" transition of power takes place. He described the operation as something that had not been seen since World War II. He also stated that Maduro and his wife had been successfully taken away in the middle of the night and would be subjected to "US law." According to CCTV news, on January 3rd, US President Trump made a statement on military actions in Venezuela. Trump stated that the US military used air, land, and sea forces in the operation. Trump said Venezuela's military capabilities were severely weakened in the attack, but a question remained: whether the Venezuelan military would seize power in what appeared to be a power vacuum. According to Xinhua News Agency, large US oil companies will go to Venezuela. Trump stated, "We will have the largest oil companies in America, which are the largest oil companies in the world, invest billions of dollars to repair the badly damaged oil infrastructure and start making profits for the country." Trump released a photo of Maduro on the USS Sulfur Island. According to CCTV news, on January 3rd, Trump posted a photo of Maduro on the USS Sulfur Island on his social platform Truth Social. Maduro was seen on a US warship wearing handcuffs and with his eyes covered. Venezuelan opposition: Acknowledge such results. Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Machado declared: "Popular sovereignty" has arrived. Edmundo Gonzalez should take power "immediately," and the Venezuelan armed forces should acknowledge such results. We are ready to fulfill our "mission" and take over power, bringing order to Venezuela. Christopher Sabatini, a senior researcher at the Chatham House think tank, said that simply removing Maduro is "not enough" to give the Venezuelan opposition power. While the opposition won a legitimate victory in the most recent elections, Maduro denied the results. Currently, members of Maduro's inner circle are attempting to negotiate power succession rather than accepting democratic transition. Maduro may appear in a federal court in New York on the 5th. According to CCTV news, it was learned on January 3rd that Venezuelan President Maduro may appear in a federal court in Manhattan, New York, as early as the 5th. However, this schedule could still change. According to media reports citing two knowledgeable sources, the US Department of Justice is expected to bring new charges against Maduro and his wife in New York, and submit a supplemental indictment. Previously, Maduro was indicted in New York in 2020. The US Department of Justice's charges against Maduro were initially presented in three indictments in 2020 - two in New York, one in Washington, and one in Miami. These cases allege a conspiracy spanning several decades, in which Maduro and his senior aides provided political and military protection to drug terrorists, while embezzling billions of dollars from the state. Trump: Watched Maduro's capture in real-time like watching a TV show, the US will deeply intervene in Venezuela's oil industry. According to CCTV news, on January 3rd, US President Trump stated that the US had successfully carried out an attack on Venezuela, capturing Venezuelan President Maduro and his wife and taking them out of Venezuela. Trump stated that the US had successfully carried out a large-scale attack on Venezuela and its leader, President Maduro, and that Maduro and his wife had been captured and flown out of the country. This operation was conducted in conjunction with US law enforcement agencies. According to Xinhua News Agency, on the 3rd, US President Trump, in a phone interview with Fox News, stated that the Maduro couple was currently on a US warship and would be prosecuted in New York. Trump also revealed more details about the US military's arrest of Maduro, stating that he watched in real-time as US special forces captured Maduro. He said it was like watching a "TV show" and seeing "every detail." Trump said that US special forces removed Maduro from a heavily guarded "fortress." Trump also stated that the US does not rule out a second wave of attacks on Venezuela. According to CCTV news, US President Trump told US media that the US will deeply intervene in Venezuela's oil industry. Trump stated that they will assess "whether to lead Venezuela by opposition leader Machado" and "currently, Venezuela still has a vice president." What will be the impact on gold and oil prices? Phil Flynn, senior market analyst at Price Futures Group, said: "The next 24 to 48 hours will be crucial. If the Venezuelan military supports the opposition, this will be a major positive for the global markets. Otherwise, if the situation escalates into more conflict or civil war, the markets will react differently." Venezuela has a reserve of 303 billion barrels of oil, accounting for about one-fifth of the global reserves, according to the US Energy Information Administration. However, the country's actual daily production is only about 1 million barrels, accounting for only 0.8% of global oil production, much lower than the 2 million barrels during Maduro's rule in 2013, and far less than the 3.5 million barrels before the socialist regime came to power in 1999. International sanctions, economic crises, and lack of investment and maintenance have led to the deterioration of Venezuela's energy infrastructure, and production capacity has significantly decreased. Therefore, even if Venezuela's oil supply is completely cut off, oil prices and prices of derivative products like gasoline are unlikely to spiral out of control. Oil prices have been suppressed by concerns about oversupply this year. OPEC has increased production, but global economy continues to face issues of inflation and affordability, leading to reduced demand. When the Trump administration began seizing Venezuelan oil tankers, US crude oil prices briefly rose above $60 per barrel, but then fell back to $57. Flynn said, "There may be some psychological boost, but Venezuela's oil can easily be replaced by a combination of global producers." Venezuela's gold potential is estimated to be around 3,500 tons, with a production of 31 tons projected for 2024, placing it in the middle tier among countries worldwide. In the short term, the temporary halt to US military attacks on Venezuela may have limited impact on gold prices. In the medium term, if the US further intensifies its military intervention in Venezuela, and Venezuela responds more forcefully, the situation may temporarily escalate, potentially supporting gold prices. Analysts warn: The next 48 hours in Venezuela will be "critical." A policy research institute director stated that the next 48 hours in Venezuela could be a decisive moment, with the country facing the risk of civil war, and uncertainty remains about the extent of US intervention. Brian Fonseca, director of the Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy Research, told NBC News that the next 48 hours could be the most critical period in the entire situation. He pointed out that there is a path that could lead to serious internal conflict and possibly compel the US to further increase its involvement. Fonseca warned that the ousting of Maduro would not automatically dismantle the power structures around him. Any political transition would require engagement with the Venezuelan military, and the role of the country's armed forces is vital. This statement underscores the complexity of the Venezuelan political situation and its potential impact on regional stability. This article was originally published on Wall Street Journal See and was translated by GMTEight. Editor: Chen Wenfang.