• US move was motivated by interest in Venezuela’s enormous oil reserves, many locals tell Anadolu, pointing to statements by President Donald Trump as proof of this motive
  
• 'We have sadly realized that our opposition does not love the country. It has become clear what the Americans are interested in,' says Caracas resident Jose Antonio Mendoza

CARACAS (Venezuela) / ANKARA

Life in Venezuela's capital has largely returned to normal following the US military operation on January 3, which resulted in the capture and removal of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, to US custody.

Chaos and empty market shelves have subsided, with daily routines resuming in Caracas.

Large portraits of Maduro remain displayed prominently, and walls across the city feature slogans such as "Freedom for Maduro," "We Want You Back Among Us," and "Resist Maduro."

Heightened security measures are in place around key sites, including the Miraflores Presidential Palace, where soldiers and police conduct vehicle stops and identity checks.

In interviews with Anadolu, many Venezuelans argued that the US move was motivated by interest in Venezuela’s enormous oil reserves, pointing to statements by President Donald Trump as proof of this motive.

Venezuelan resident Hilda Lopez emphasized national sovereignty, saying: "Whether we are doing well or poorly, everyone has a sense of sovereignty in their own country. What we want is that if we have problems, we solve them ourselves. It cannot be through intervention or attack by others, because we are a free, independent country with a constitution."

Jose Antonio Mendoza criticized the opposition, stating: "We have sadly realized that our opposition does not love the country. It has become clear what the Americans are interested in."

He described the action as outright theft, linked to long-standing interest in Venezuelan refineries, and called for Maduro's release, expressing hope that he and his wife would return.

Roman Medino London described the incident as a criminal attack driven by oil interests. "The whole world should undoubtedly know that we must understand one thing: this is a criminal attack. The attack the Americans carried out on our people stems entirely from their interest in our oil reserves."

Maduro’s son still hanging on to the cause

In Bolivar Square on Sunday, crowds gathered to protest the US action while praying for Maduro's release and return.

Maduro's son, lawmaker Nicolas Maduro Guerra, spoke at the rally, stating that the January 3 events have left an indelible mark on the country, affecting the population's mental health. He thanked everyone in attendance and urged them to keep fighting until his father and stepmother are freed.

Interim President Delcy Rodriguez has assumed leadership, announcing a new political era with calls for dialogue with the opposition to reach agreements on peace and governance.

The US has engaged with remnants of the former administration rather than fully empowering opposition figures.

Some political prisoners have been released, but restrictions on expression persist, and no full democratic transition or elections have occurred yet.

Elements aligned with Chavismo, a left-wing populist ideology rooted in anti-imperialism that opposes Washington's policies, maintain significant power, with limited progress against the larger Maduro-Chavez system framework.