US military involvement in Venezuela peaked with a limited January 3, 2026, special operations raid (Operation Absolute Resolve) that used airstrikes and ground forces to capture Nicolás Maduro, after months of naval deployments, maritime strikes on suspected drug vessels, and sanctions escalation. US officials have since confirmed no sustained troop presence on Venezuelan soil, with diplomacy resuming through embassy reopening, sanctions relief on oil trade, and engagement with acting President Delcy Rodríguez on energy and stability issues. Congressional efforts to invoke the War Powers Resolution and regional reactions have reinforced constraints on further action. Current trader assessments reflect these de-escalation trends and the absence of new triggers for intervention by mid-2026, while monitoring Venezuelan political transitions, oil negotiations, and any renewed drug or migration pressures that could alter the outlook.