World News
US Capture of Maduro Triggers International Backlash
- Maduro and Wife Plead Not Guilty in New York Court to Narco-Terrorism Charges
- Trump Says US Will ‘Run’ Venezuela Temporarily; Allies Criticise Action at UN
- Operation Involved Pre-Dawn Strikes on Caracas, Dozens Reported Killed
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty Monday to U.S. charges of narco-terrorism, drug trafficking and related crimes, two days after U.S. special forces captured them in a controversial military raid on Caracas that has drawn widespread global criticism.
Maduro, appearing handcuffed in a Manhattan federal courtroom, declared himself a “prisoner of war” and insisted, “I am innocent. I am a decent man, the president of my country.”
His wife also entered a not guilty plea.
The couple faces potential life sentences if convicted on allegations of flooding the U.S. with cocaine through ties to drug cartels.
The operation, confirmed by President Donald Trump as a “large-scale strike,” involved elite U.S. units, including Delta Force, and airstrikes that reportedly killed dozens, including civilians and security personnel.
Trump praised the mission as a “brilliant operation” and stated the U.S. would temporarily “run” Venezuela to oversee its vast oil reserves and facilitate a transition.pbs.org
International reaction was swift and largely negative. At an emergency UN Security Council meeting, even U.S. allies condemned the action as a violation of sovereignty and international law.
Venezuela’s UN ambassador accused Washington of an “illegal armed attack,” while protesters rallied in cities worldwide against the raid.
In Caracas, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as interim leader, denouncing the “kidnapping” but signalling openness to dialogue.
Maduro’s defence team vowed to challenge the legality of his capture, citing head-of-state immunity.
The indictment, unsealed after the raid, accuses Maduro of leading a corrupt regime tied to massive cocaine trafficking since 1999.
U.S. officials justified the operation by deeming Maduro illegitimate following the disputed 2024 elections.
Legal experts questioned the raid’s compliance with international norms, comparing it to past U.S. actions but noting the unprecedented abduction of a sitting president without extradition.
The incident has heightened tensions in Latin America, with fears of broader implications for regional sovereignty and U.S. foreign policy under Trump.