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The U.S. military’s detention of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on the 3rd has been commended for demonstrating America’s unmatched military operational skills. This view is based on the fact that the operation, named “Absolute Resolve,” led to the “precise arrest” of Maduro and his wife just 2 hours and 15 minutes after authorization, with no U.S. military casualties. Dan Caine, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), referred to the mission as “a courageous operation that only the U.S. could carry out, requiring the highest degree of accuracy and coordination.” Experts believe the success of the operation was due to the commitment of U.S. special forces, state-of-the-art weapons, intelligence capabilities, and advanced artificial intelligence technology.

Caine stated, “Combined forces including the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps worked together smoothly with intelligence and law enforcement agencies. Each component was perfectly coordinated in both time and space for a single goal.” He further noted, “Although helicopters carrying the arrest team encountered attacks while quickly moving to the target, they defended themselves with powerful force, ensuring the safe return of all more than 150 aircraft.” The operation’s almost perfect execution is credited to the U.S. military’s thorough review of past mistakes and implementation of enhancements.

The mission was directed by the Army’s top-tier Delta Force, with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Night Stalkers) responsible for their transport to the objective. The United States operates high-level special operations forces, such as the Green Berets, 75th Ranger Regiment (Army), Navy SEALs, and 720th Special Tactics Squadron (Air Force). Educating one special operations personnel involves billions of won and extensive time. For example, training a Navy SEAL is said to cost more than $2 million (around 2.9 billion Korean won).

These units have gained valuable experience through trial and error during counterterrorism and hostage recovery operations around the globe. They were crucial in the invasion of Panama, the Gulf War, and the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, although numerous operators have also lost their lives in unsuccessful missions. In 1979, the “Eagle Claw” operation to free American hostages in Iran resulted in eight fatalities and a withdrawal. The “Gothic Serpent” mission in Somalia in 1993, which aimed to capture warlord Aidid, led to almost 100 casualties in a major firefight. This event is regarded as the most severe in the history of special operations and was later turned into the film *Black Hawk Down*. More recently, in 2019, during Trump’s first term, the New York Times reported that Navy SEALs had entered North Korean waters for a surveillance mission targeting Kim Jong-un, but the operation ended in failure. After every setback, the U.S. military conducted detailed reviews of the causes and incorporated the lessons learned into their strategies and training programs across all branches.

The United States also showcased its strength in information warfare throughout this operation. Intelligence reportedly involved both human intelligence (HUMINT) from insiders and data generated by artificial intelligence. In August of last year, the CIA sent a small team to the region to keep an eye on events. Stealth drones gathered details about Maduro’s environment, while the NSA examined signal intelligence and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) handled satellite images. This provided insights into Maduro’s daily schedule, movement patterns, eating habits, attire, and even his pets. Military analysts believe that private-sector AI technology was used during this extended effort. Choi Gil, a professor at the Military Science Department of Sangji University, noted, “It is likely that Palantir, a U.S. AI company, used tracking algorithms to follow Maduro’s digital presence. The technological edge of private companies highlights American national power.”

Delta Force carried out several training exercises utilizing a full-scale replica of Maduro’s safe house. Despite not having complete information about the actual layout of the safe house, they modified the model’s configuration to simulate various situations. The fact that Maduro was unable to access a steel-door-protected safe room while asleep in his bedroom is credited to this thorough preparation. Yang Uk, a research fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, stated, “Although military power is overwhelming, the key factor was better intelligence. During the Panama invasion, large forces struggled to find the target, but this time, Maduro was captured in a quick and sophisticated manner.”

The U.S. triggered a power outage in Caracas during the operation, possibly using secret advanced technology. At a press event on the 3rd, Trump said, “Most lights in Caracas were switched off because of our specific expertise.” Caine mentioned, “Cyber and Space Commands started applying effects to establish access routes.” Politico indicated the blackout might have been caused by cyberattacks or other technical abilities.

Military analysts all concur that the U.S. showcased abilities that were beyond what anyone could have imagined in specialized operations. Lee Kang-soo, a professor at the Graduate School of Defense Science at Hansung University, stated, “Massive technological developments far exceeding our expectations are being utilized in military activities. The U.S. is essentially unbeatable in special operations.”