New Delhi: The US carried out an airstrike and arrested Nicolas Maduro, drawing global attention to the events. The Trump administration first ousted him from power and has now taken him into custody, bringing back memories of events from 36 years ago.

Nearly three and a half decades ago, the US government arrested Panamanian ruler Noriega and prosecuted him on several charges, similar to those levelled against Maduro. The events in Venezuela have brought back memories of the Panama operation. Furthermore, after the success of the Panama operation, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was captured and hanged. This shows that several such incidents have occurred in world history.

Many such incidents in political history

It may be surprising to learn that many such incidents have occurred in the world’s political history, which are remembered even after the passage of time. A similar example was seen recently when the US claimed to have arrested Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

On January 3, US President Donald Trump said that the US military had conducted a large-scale military operation in Venezuela, taking President Nicolas Maduro and his wife into custody. The US has long accused Maduro of drug trafficking and having ties to terrorist groups.

In 2020, a US court also filed a case against Maduro on charges of corruption, drug trafficking, and other serious offences. The US announced a $50 million reward for information leading to his arrest or conviction.

What is the Panama Operation?

It is worth noting that this is not the first time the US has intervened in a Latin American country and apprehended its ruler for drug trafficking. In 1989, the US attacked Panama and arrested its ruler, Manuel Noriega.

This incident is still considered a major example of international politics and US military intervention. Manuel Noriega rose to prominence in Panamanian politics when Omar Torrijos seized power in a coup in 1968.