Deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is expected to appear in a New York court on Monday, days after being seized in Caracas during a US military operation. The 63-year-old faces narcotrafficking charges alongside his wife, Cilia Flores, who was also captured in the assault involving helicopters, fighter jets, and naval forces.
Interim Venezuelan leader Delcy Rodríguez, initially defiant, offered to cooperate with the United States, signaling a potential concession. Meanwhile, thousands of Maduro supporters rallied in Caracas, and the loyalist military urged calm. Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López said many members of Maduro’s security detail, military personnel, and civilians were killed in the operation.
US officials, including former President Donald Trump, emphasized securing access to Venezuela’s oil and maintaining economic leverage through tankers blockades, while the White House insists it does not seek regime change, only Maduro’s removal.
International reactions were swift: China and Iran condemned the operation and called for Maduro’s release, while the EU expressed concern. Colombian President Gustavo Petro described the assault as a violation of Latin American sovereignty, warning of potential humanitarian consequences.
The UN Security Council is set to hold an emergency session to discuss the implications of the US operation. The country’s political future remains uncertain after nearly a quarter-century of rule by Maduro and his late predecessor, Hugo Chávez.
