U.S. forces captured Venezuela's President Maduro on Jan. 5, 2026, without Congress approval, sparking global defense stock gains and heightened geopolitical tensions.

On January 5, 2026, a U.S. military operation in Venezuela resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro without the consent of Congress, which caused an increase in defense stocks worldwide. U.S. defense companies increased in premarket trading, while European and Indian defense companies saw notable gains. President Donald Trump referred to the operation as "Operation Absolute Resolve," citing long-standing sanctions as justification for its goal of facilitating a political transition. Expectations of higher military spending amid escalating geopolitical tensions, especially in the Western Hemisphere and over Taiwan, caused markets to react with cautious optimism. As investors awaited important economic data and conjectured about potential changes in Federal Reserve policy, the U.S. dollar also appreciated due to demand for safe havens.