In a pointed remark during a press conference, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth highlighted the apparent shortcomings of Russian-supplied air defenses in Venezuela following the recent US operation that led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas.
Hegseth’s Statement
During a press conference on January 5, 2026, Hegseth addressed the operation and directed a comment toward Russia, which has provided air defense systems to Venezuela in the past. In the statement, he said: “And then we saw 3 nights ago in downtown Caracas in Venezuela, as nearly 200 of our greatest Americans went downtown in Caracas, It seems those Russian air defenses didn’t quite work so well, did they, downtown Caracas and grabbed and indicted individual wanted by American justice in support of law enforcement without a single American killed.”
He further added: “Nicholas Maduro had his chance, until he didnt.”
Background on Pete Hegseth
Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host and Army National Guard veteran with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, was appointed as the US Secretary of War under President Donald Trump’s administration. The role, overseeing the Department of War—a rebranded version of the Department of Defense—places him in charge of military operations and national security strategies.
The Operation in Caracas
On January 3, 2026, US forces conducted a targeted extraction mission in downtown Caracas, Venezuela. The operation involved nearly 200 American personnel who apprehended Nicolás Maduro, who had been indicted by US authorities on charges related to drug trafficking and corruption. The mission was executed without any American casualties, marking a swift and precise action supported by law enforcement objectives. Maduro, along with his wife Cilia Flores, was transported to New York for court proceedings.
