CNN commentator Fareed Zakaria offered his assessment of Venezuela’s future following the January 3, 2026, U.S. military operation that captured and ousted longtime strongman Nicolás Maduro, who has since been extradited to New York and entered a not-guilty plea on federal drug trafficking charges. In his analysis, Zakaria acknowledged the historic nature of the operation while warning that the road ahead for Venezuela is likely to be complex and unstable.

Zakaria argued that the removal of Maduro, while dramatic, represents only the beginning of a difficult transition. He pointed to decades of institutional decay, corruption, and economic collapse that have hollowed out Venezuela’s governing capacity. According to Zakaria, the country now faces a period of uncertainty that could include internal power struggles, economic disruption, and a prolonged reliance on U.S. oversight to stabilize basic functions of the state.

The CNN analyst also discussed the Trump administration’s posture in the aftermath of the operation, noting that Washington is expected to play a central role in shaping Venezuela’s interim governance and security environment. While acknowledging the effectiveness of decisive action in ending Maduro’s rule, Zakaria raised concerns about how long American involvement might last and how it will be perceived by the Venezuelan public and neighboring countries.

Zakaria was notably critical of President Trump’s broader warning to other nations in the region, including Cuba, Mexico, and Colombia, that the United States is prepared to take military action to deter threats such as drug trafficking, mass migration, and adversarial influence. He characterized the warnings as unusually blunt and cautioned that such rhetoric could heighten regional tensions, even as it signals renewed American resolve.

Supporters of the administration counter that this clarity is precisely the point. By drawing unmistakable red lines, President Trump is signaling that the era of tolerating narco-states and hostile regimes in the Western Hemisphere is over. From this perspective, Venezuela serves as a case study in deterrence, demonstrating that U.S. warnings are no longer theoretical.

Zakaria’s analysis reflects the broader debate now unfolding in Washington and the media: whether the decisive removal of Maduro marks the beginning of a more stable and lawful Venezuela, or the start of a prolonged and challenging transition under U.S. supervision. What is clear is that the Trump administration has fundamentally altered the strategic landscape in the region, forcing allies, adversaries, and commentators alike to reassess America’s role in the hemisphere.