NEW YORK, Jan 5 (GeokHub) — Ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro was scheduled to appear in a Manhattan federal court on Monday to face sweeping drug trafficking charges, as the United Nations prepared to examine the legality of the U.S. military operation that led to his capture.
The raid, carried out over the weekend by U.S. Special Forces, marked Washington’s most forceful intervention in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama. Helicopters descended on Caracas, breaching Maduro’s security detail and detaining him just outside a secure room, according to officials familiar with the operation.
While Maduro remains in U.S. custody, senior loyalists continue to hold power in Caracas, initially condemning the raid before pivoting toward cautious overtures of cooperation with Washington.
Oil at the Center of U.S. Pressure
President Donald Trump has repeatedly framed the operation as both a law enforcement action and a strategic reset, accusing Maduro of running a narco-state while making clear his interest in reopening Venezuela’s oil sector to U.S. companies.
Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven crude reserves, estimated at more than 300 billion barrels, though years of mismanagement, sanctions and underinvestment have slashed production to roughly one-third of its historical peak.
After initially branding Maduro’s capture an illegal abduction driven by oil ambitions, Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodriguez softened her stance on Sunday, calling for “respectful relations” and cooperation with the United States within international legal frameworks.
“Our peoples and our region deserve peace and dialogue, not war,” Rodriguez said, signaling a possible recalibration by the Chavista leadership amid mounting pressure.
Trump Warns of Further Military Action
Trump, however, warned that additional strikes remain an option if Caracas fails to cooperate on opening the energy sector and curbing drug trafficking. He also suggested that neighboring countries could face U.S. action if they obstruct Washington’s regional objectives.
Despite Maduro’s removal, the future political structure of Venezuela remains unclear. Trump has sidelined prominent opposition figures, including longtime anti-Maduro leaders who had expected a transition following the raid.
The U.N. Security Council was expected to debate the operation, with Russia, China and several left-leaning governments condemning the United States for violating international law. Washington’s allies, many of whom never recognized Maduro’s presidency due to disputed elections, have largely urged restraint while stopping short of outright criticism.
Maduro and Wife Face Federal Charges
Maduro, a former bus driver and union leader handpicked by Hugo Chávez to succeed him in 2013, is being held in Brooklyn alongside his wife, Cilia Flores. Both were due to appear before a federal judge in Manhattan on charges alleging leadership of a cocaine trafficking network tied to major criminal groups across Latin America.
Maduro has long rejected the accusations, saying they were fabricated to justify U.S. efforts to control Venezuela’s natural resources.
Trump has defended the operation as necessary to stem illegal drug flows and migration, arguing that Venezuela’s collapse has contributed to instability far beyond its borders.
“We’re taking back what they stole,” Trump said, adding that American energy firms would return to rehabilitate Venezuela’s decaying oil infrastructure. “We’re in charge.”
Anxious Calm Inside Venezuela
Inside Venezuela, celebrations among Maduro opponents have been muted. With senior loyalists still in place and no visible military defections, many citizens are bracing for uncertainty rather than celebrating regime change.
Residents reported quieter streets and increased purchases of food and medicine as concerns grow over potential instability.
Financial markets reacted swiftly. Venezuelan bonds surged, oil prices edged higher and defense stocks gained globally as investors assessed the broader geopolitical implications of the U.S. action.
Domestically, the operation has stirred controversy in Washington. Democratic lawmakers accused the administration of withholding key details, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio was expected to brief Congress later on Monday.
Despite criticism from a small faction of conservatives who argue the raid contradicts Trump’s “America First” pledge, most of his supporters have hailed the operation as a decisive and low-cost victory.
