← Latest news 
Trump weighs making Venezuela America’s 51st state after a raid and Maduro capture sparks global panic
International
Published on 11 May 2026
US plan follows a raid that seized Maduro
Donald Trump says he is seriously considering making Venezuela the 51st US state, shocking diplomats and roiling energy markets. The proposal comes after a January 2026 US military raid captured Nicolás Maduro and installed a cooperative acting government in Caracas. Trump pointed to Venezuela’s vast $40 trillion oil, while China calls the intervention illegal and Latin America fears a precedent.
- Trump’s 51st state idea follows a January 2026 US raid and Maduro capture
- Venezuela oil revenue is cited as a major motive
- China and Latin American leaders condemn or worry about the move
- Legal experts warn statehood is unprecedented and constitutionally complex
Read the full story at The Economic Times
This summarization was done by Beige for a story published on 
The Economic Times