In early January 2026, the United States conducted targeted airstrikes and a special forces operation in Caracas, capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro without a full-scale ground invasion or ongoing troop occupation—the first direct U.S. military action in South America since Panama in 1989. This intervention shifted dynamics amid prior sanctions and diplomatic isolation of Maduro's regime. Relations have since improved, with the U.S. lifting sanctions on acting President Delcy Rodríguez on April 2 and resuming embassy operations on March 30, emphasizing energy cooperation over escalation. No new military threats reported; focus remains on Venezuelan stabilization, potential elections, and regional diplomacy, reducing prospects for broader conflict.