What is Operation Absolute Resolve? UPSC

Operation Absolute Resolve was a U.S. military mission that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Although the announcement came suddenly, the operation itself had been planned for a long time. U.S. military leaders later explained that it involved careful preparation, intelligence work, and coordination between different branches of the armed forces.

Months before the mission, the United States increased its military presence near Venezuela. One major move was sending the USS Gerald Ford carrier group into the region. At the same time, intelligence agencies were closely monitoring Maduro’s routines and movements. By early December, officials believed they had enough information to act, but bad weather delayed the mission.

• The operation officially began at 10:46 p.m. Eastern Time on Saturday (Jan 3, 2026), when President Donald Trump gave the final approval. Aircraft then launched from many bases across the Western Hemisphere. More than 150 aircraft were involved, including fighters, bombers, helicopters, drones, and surveillance planes. Personnel from different military branches took part, ranging from very young crew members to highly experienced ones.
• Before helicopters entered Caracas, U.S. cyber and space units disrupted Venezuelan defence systems. This helped reduce resistance. The helicopters flew extremely low over the water to avoid detection and were protected by advanced aircraft such as F-22s, F-35s, and long-range bombers.
• Around 1:00 a.m., U.S. forces reached Maduro’s compound. The capture team moved quickly toward their target. According to President Trump, Maduro tried to escape to a secure room but was stopped by U.S. troops. During the mission, American aircraft were fired upon and responded in self-defence. One aircraft was damaged, but all were able to return safely.
• As the forces withdrew, there were more defensive engagements. Despite this, the extraction was successful. By 3:29 a.m., all aircraft had exited Venezuelan airspace, and Maduro was taken to the USS Iwo Jima.