Deposed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is scheduled to appear in a New York court on Monday, just days after being seized in Caracas during a dramatic US military operation that has intensified international scrutiny of Washington’s involvement in the South American nation.
Maduro, 63, faces narcotrafficking charges alongside his wife, Cilia Flores, who was also captured during the operation. The US assault involved helicopters, fighter jets, and naval forces, targeting key locations in the Venezuelan capital to detain the former leaders.
Venezuela’s Response
In the wake of the operation, interim leader Delcy Rodriguez shifted from her initial defiance, signaling a willingness to cooperate with the United States.
“We extend an invitation to the US government to work together on an agenda for cooperation,” Rodriguez said, in what analysts view as a potential strategic concession to Washington.
Meanwhile, some 2,000 Maduro supporters gathered in Caracas on Sunday, waving yellow, blue, and red Venezuelan flags. A contingent of armed civilians, including rifle-bearing motorcyclists, rallied in defense of the former president. The Venezuelan military loyal to Maduro urged calm but recognized Rodriguez as interim leader.
Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez reported that a “large part” of Maduro’s security detail was killed during the operation, along with military personnel and civilians, though no official death toll has been released.
US Control and Oil Interests
US President Donald Trump declared on Sunday that the United States was “in charge” of Venezuela. He emphasized the need for total access to the country’s oil and other resources, framing it as essential to “rebuild their country.”
Venezuela holds the largest proven oil reserves in the world, and analysts warn that boosting production significantly will be neither quick nor inexpensive. Oil markets reacted with minor declines as investors weighed the implications of the US intervention.
The Trump administration has maintained economic leverage over Venezuela by enforcing sanctions and blockading oil exports. A substantial US naval presence, including an aircraft carrier, remains off the Venezuelan coast, although there are no confirmed reports of US forces remaining on the ground.
Opposition Reaction and International Condemnation
Leading opposition figure Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia described the US intervention as “important” but insufficient, citing the need for political prisoners to be released and acknowledgment of the 2024 election results.
Countries with longstanding ties to Maduro, including China, Russia, and Iran, condemned the operation. China called for Maduro’s “immediate release,” while Iran reaffirmed its relations with the Venezuelan government. Colombian President Gustavo Petro denounced the action as an “assault on the sovereignty of Latin America” and warned of potential humanitarian consequences.
The UN Security Council is set to hold an emergency session on Monday at Venezuela’s request, providing a forum for international debate over US actions and intentions in the country of approximately 30 million people.
Maduro’s Inner Circle and Political Fallout
Maduro, a protege of the late socialist leader Hugo Chavez, had maintained tight control over Venezuela alongside key figures including his wife Flores, Rodriguez, her brother Jorge, and Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello. Diplomats described the former government as a tightly-knit “club of five.”
Despite the US operation, the White House indicated that it seeks Maduro’s removal, not wholesale regime change, leaving the broader opposition largely sidelined.
The coming days are likely to shape Venezuela’s political trajectory and its role in the global oil market, as the international community assesses the implications of US intervention in the country.
