**Breaking: US’ Trump Strikes Venezuela, Claims President Maduro Was Captured and Flown Out of the Country**
*Source: FXStreet, by FXStreet News Team*
## Introduction
In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing Venezuelan crisis, significant reports broke out that caused immediate ripples through global Forex and commodities markets. President Donald Trump announced that President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela was captured and flown out of the country. Given Venezuela’s crucial role in the global oil market, such a development brought substantial volatility across multiple asset classes and forced traders to quickly re-evaluate their positions. This article provides an in-depth look at the situation, the immediate market reaction, and what it could mean for Forex traders in the coming weeks.
## The Breaking News: Maduro Allegedly Captured
### The Announcement
According to reports originated by the FXStreet News Team, President Trump publicly stated that:
– President Nicolás Maduro had been captured by US forces.
– Maduro was allegedly flown out of Venezuela.
– The action was informed as a swift measure aimed at stabilizing the country following significant unrest and economic collapse.
– Trump expressed intentions to restore order and launch a process for democratization.
*The original report and further updates can be found at FXStreet.com, crediting the FXStreet News Team for direct insights.*
### Background Context
The US government has maintained a long-standing adversarial relationship with Nicolás Maduro’s regime, often criticizing the administration for:
– Alleged human rights violations.
– Electoral irregularities and accusations of dictatorship.
– Economic mismanagement leading to hyperinflation and mass emigration.
Sanctions have been levied against Venezuelan officials, and military intervention has, at times, been discussed, though actual direct action had been avoided until this breaking announcement.
### Market Shockwaves
Immediate market reaction was pronounced, with the following changes noticed:
– The US dollar surged against most Latin American currencies, especially the Venezuelan bolivar.
– Crude oil spiked, given concerns over supply disruptions.
– Safe-haven assets such as gold and the Japanese yen were in higher demand.
– Emerging market currencies broadly weakened on fears of increased regional instability.
## Impact on Forex Markets
### The USD/Venezuelan Bolivar (VES) Dynamic
The Venezuelan bolivar has long been under pressure due to the country’s economic hardships but spiked dramatically following Trump’s statement. Currency exchanges noted a surge in demand for USD as Venezuelans and investors sought a safe haven.
– The VES fell to new lows against the USD.
– Most brokers temporarily suspended trading on the VES due to severe volatility.
– Black market USD/VES rates soared, reflecting fears of an uncertain future.
### USD Performance Across Latin America
Trump’s claim triggered broader Latin American FX moves:
– The Mexican peso (MXN) and Colombian peso (COP) each lost ground against the greenback, reflecting contagion fears.
– The Brazilian real (BRL) also declined, pressured by regional uncertainty.
– Other emerging market currencies followed suit, with investors reducing risk exposure.
### Risk Aversion and Safe Havens
As typically seen during geopolitical shocks, traders flocked to safe assets:
– Gold experienced a rapid increase as investors sought a store of value.
– The Japanese yen (JPY) and Swiss franc (CHF) appreciated against riskier currencies.
– US Treasury yields declined, reflecting a move into government bonds.
## Oil Markets React
Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves. The sudden removal of Maduro, even if temporary, injected uncertainty regarding continuity of oil operations.
### Oil Price Fluctuations
– West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent crude both saw sharp intraday gains of over 3 percent at one point.
– Speculation mounted that tankers could be delayed or seized, or that new leadership could review contracts and halt shipments.
– Energy equities on international markets also rallied.
### Longer-Term Implications
– If a stable, US-friendly regime
Read more on GBP/USD trading.