US ousts Nicolas Maduro ending Venezuela conflict and impacting Polisario alliance

Maduro captured and extradited by American forces
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After 13 years of unchallenged rule, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was forced to step down following a special military operation orchestrated by the Trump administration. The United States has successfully executed a «large-scale strike» in Venezuela, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, who have been transferred out of the country. This mission was conducted in collaboration with American law enforcement, announced the American president on his social media platform. This arrest marks the end of a prolonged conflict between Washington and Caracas, characterized by diplomatic and economic sanctions.
The removal of Nicolás Maduro from power signifies a significant loss for the Polisario Front, which now finds itself without its primary supporter in South America. The former Venezuelan leader consistently voiced his backing for the Front's positions from the United Nations podium. Additionally, the Venezuelan ambassador in Algiers served as a representative to the Polisario. Just last March, Brahim Ghali welcomed Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil in Windhoek, Namibia's capital. This development also represents a setback for Algeria, losing a key ally in the region.
It is worth recalling that during Trump's first term in the White House (January 2017-January 2021), Rabat aligned itself with Washington's initiatives by recognizing the former opposition leader, Juan Guaidó, as the «elected president» of Venezuela, even allowing for the establishment of an «embassy.»
Currently, the opposition is spearheaded by Maria Corina Machado, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2025.