&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "US-Venezuela conflict HIGHLIGHTS: Maduro, wife plead not guilty to charges")
The United States on Saturday (Jan 3) captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, in what it described as its war against drug cartels and drug lords. In an operation titled Operation Absolute Resolve, the American forces entered Venezuela, bombed Caracas and captured the Venezuelan leader and his wife, Cilia Flores, from their presidential palace under the direction of US President Donald Trump.
Maduro was flown to USS Iwo Jima, then to Guantánamo Bay, and finally by government plane to Stewart Air National Guard Base in NY. He is held at Brooklyn’s notorious Metropolitan Detention Center, and he faces narco-terrorism charges. He is set to appear in Manhattan federal court on Jan 5.
A day after the US operation, Trump claimed that ‘a lot of Cubans were killed’, while no US soldiers died in the operation. Havana authorities said that 32 Cubans were killed, while the Colombian President said that one person from his country was also killed.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said that Washington will rule Venezuela “until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition.” Trump also said that “very large United States oil companies” would move into Venezuela to “fix the badly broken… oil infrastructure and start making money for the country.” He echoed the same on Sunday while talking to reporters aboard Air Force One. However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the US does not plan to take on a day-to-day governing role in Venezuela.
Meanwhile, Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodriguez on Sunday (Jan 4) called for a “balanced and respectful” relationship with the United States.
Jorge Rodriguez has been re-appointed as head of the National Assembly
On Monday (January 5), Russia's ambassador to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, demanded that the United States release now-ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. He warned that Washington’s actions could mark the beginning of a new era of colonialism and imperialism. Nebenzya described the US attack on Venezuela’s leader as a sign of a return to lawlessness and a period of American dominance through force.
An emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council has commenced to address the ongoing situation in Venezuela, with the agenda focusing on 'threats to international peace and security.'
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has once again criticised the United States’ involvement in Venezuela and the attempt to remove President Nicolas Maduro. Speaking at a press briefing in Mexico City on Monday (Jan 5), Sheinbaum emphasised that Mexico maintains a consistent and long-standing stance against foreign interference. She stressed that the country “unequivocally opposes meddling in the domestic affairs of other nations.”
David Wikstrom has been appointed by the court to represent ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro at his first court appearance in New York, a source familiar with the matter told CNN.
Oil prices declined on Monday as ample global supply countered worries over possible disruptions following the United States' capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Brent crude futures fell 23 cents, or 0.4%, to $60.52 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude slipped 21 cents, or 0.4%, to $57.11 a barrel.
President Donald Trump's calls that Greenland should become part of the United States was met with international condemnation Monday as the autonomous Danish territory's prime minister warned, "That's enough now".
Washington's military intervention in Venezuela has reignited fears for Greenland, which Trump has repeatedly said he wants to annex, given its strategic location in the Arctic.
While aboard Air Force One en route to Washington, Trump reiterated the goal.
"We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it," he said in response to a reporter's question.
"We'll worry about Greenland in about two months... let's talk about Greenland in 20 days."
The territory's prime minister issued a clear warning: "That's enough now."
"No more pressure. No more insinuations. No more fantasies of annexation," Jens-Frederik Nielsen said on Facebook.
Iran on Monday (Jan 5) called for the release of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, who was captured in a US military operation under US President Donald Trump. Calling it an “illegal act”, the Islamic Republic’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei said that “abducting” the president of a country and his wife was “nothing to be proud of”.
Read more here.
Iran said on Monday that its relations with close ally Venezuela remained unchanged despite the United States capturing its leader Nicolas Maduro and taking him to New York for trial.
"Our relations with all countries, including Venezuela, are based on mutual respect and will remain so," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baqaei said at a press conference. "We are in contact with the Venezuelan authorities."
United States President Donald Trump on Sunday (Jan 4) insisted that his country is "in charge" of Venezuela after the capturing of former President Nicolas Maduro. This comes after Trump declared that the US will run the country and fix the badly broken oil infrastructure and “start making money for the country.” However, it comes in contrast with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio who said that Washington does not plan to take on a day-to-day governing role in Venezuela.
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Iran called on Monday for the release of Nicholas Maduro, the ousted president of Tehran's close ally Venezuela who was seized in a US military operation and taken to New York to stand trial.
"The president of a country and his wife were abducted. It's nothing to be proud of; it's an illegal act," foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei said at a weekly press conference. "As the Venezuelan people have emphasised, their president must be released."
After capturing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and launching strikes in Caracas, US President Donald Trump issued a fresh warning to the South American nation, suggesting a second strike in the country “if they don’t behave”. This comes after American forces on Saturday (Jan 3) seized the Venezuelan leader in what it described as its war against drug cartels and drug lords.
Read more here.
Colombia's President Gustavo Petro on Sunday rejected threats by his US counterpart, Donald Trump, who also accused him of being a drug trafficker.
US forces attacked Caracas in the early hours of Saturday, bombing military targets during a shock snatch-and-grab raid to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro from power and assert Washington's control over the oil-rich South American nation.
Trump warned Mexico, Colombia and Cuba after a US operation in Venezuela that captured Nicolas Maduro. He claimed Mexico’s leader is “scared,” hinted at targeting Colombia’s president, said Cuba is “ready to fall,” and acknowledged dozens killed in Caracas.
Read more here.
Nicolás Maduro is set to make his first appearance in a US federal court on Monday (Jan 5) after being captured by the US forces on Saturday (Jan 3). The Venezuelan leader is awaiting trail in New York City on federal criminal charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy and cocaine import.
Venezuelan communication minister announces commission to seek Maduro's release
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Sunday that Venezuelans in the U.S. who were previously under temporary protective status (TPS) can apply for asylum.
“Every individual that was under TPS has the opportunity to apply for refugee status and that evaluation will go forward,” Noem told host Gillian Turner on “Fox News Sunday.”
Noem ended TPS last year for roughly 600,000 Venezuelan migrants who received protected status from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under the Biden administration. After the US captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, early Saturday morning, Venezuelan migrants in South Florida took to the streets to celebrate.
“Venezuela reaffirms its commitment to peace and peaceful coexistence. Our country aspires to live without external threats, in an environment of respect and international cooperation. We believe that global peace is built by first guaranteeing peace within each nation,” said Delcy Rodríguez, Acting President of Venezuela.
“We invite the US government to collaborate with us on an agenda of cooperation oriented towards shared development within the framework of international law to strengthen lasting community coexistence,” she added.
Rodríguez further said, “President Donald Trump, our peoples and our region deserve peace and dialogue, not war. This has always been President Nicolás Maduro’s message, and it is the message of all of Venezuela right now. This is the Venezuela I believe in and have dedicated my life to. I dream of a Venezuela where all good Venezuelans can come together.”
“Venezuela has the right to peace, development, sovereignty and a future,” she concluded.
US President Donald Trump on Sunday (Jan 4) said that Cuba was “ready to fall” after US forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro days earlier. Trump added that “a lot of Cubans were killed” during the US operation to seize the Venezuelan leader.
Read more here.