Nicolás caged: what next for Venezuela?

特朗普接管委内瑞拉

The Intelligence from The Economist

2026-01-05

24 分钟
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America's National Security Strategy, released a month ago, suggested the administration's focus was on dominance of the western hemisphere. But no one expected its first move would be a special-forces raid to depose President Nicolás Maduro. What is next comes with grave risks. And the video-games business wants to escape its rut by finding whole new markets—geographically and demographically.
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  • The Economist.

  • Hello and welcome to The Intelligence from The Economist.

  • I'm your host Jason Palmer.

  • Every weekday we provide a fresh perspective on the events shaping your world.

  • As part of our World Ahead series looking at what 2026 has in store

  • for countries, trends, and industries, we take a look at the business of gaming.

  • Having fairly well saturated the markets that it's in, new regions and demographics beckon.

  • But first, to Venezuela.

  • What a weekend it was for Venezuelans and for one Venezuelan in particular.

  • First, surprise airstrikes.

  • Then a daring nighttime raid by American special forces to seize President Nicolas Maduro.

  • After a stint on an amphibious warship, a blindfolded plane trip to the US,

  • Mr. Maduro was photographed expressionless during all this.

  • Then when perp-walked through the halls of the Drug Enforcement Agency in New York,

  • he had an incongruous holiday message for onlookers.

  • Good night. Happy New Year.

  • For weeks America had been assembling its largest force in the Caribbean in decades.

  • Sinking alleged drug boats, seizing Venezuelan oil tankers, and generally making dark threats against Mr. Maduro.

  • Now having deposed him, the Trump administration claims it has unfettered control over the country.

  • Going to stay until such time as the proper transition can take place.