Agency- The United States has taken Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro into custody and flown him to New York, with President Donald Trump announcing that Washington will temporarily govern Venezuela until a new government is formed.
Speaking at a press conference at his Florida residence, Trump said the United States would remain in control of Venezuela during what he described as a “safe, just, and prudent transfer of power.”
“The United States will remain in power in Venezuela until there is a safe, just, and prudent transfer of power,” Trump said.
US military operation in Caracas
According to US authorities, American forces launched a military operation on Saturday targeting Caracas and other Venezuelan cities. Trump said Maduro and his wife, First Lady Cilia Flores, were captured during the operation by the US Army’s elite Delta Force, the military’s primary counter-terrorism unit.
Trump later released a photograph on his social media platform Truth Social, showing Maduro in handcuffs, wearing a grey tracksuit, a black blindfold, and headphones, surrounded by US personnel. The image marked the first official visual confirmation from the US side of Maduro’s detention.
Criminal charges announced
The US Attorney General’s Office said Maduro and his wife would face prosecution in the Southern District of New York, accusing them of involvement in drug trafficking.
US Attorney General Pamela Bundy said Maduro had been charged with conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism against the United States, conspiracy to import cocaine, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy related to those offenses.
“Nicolás Maduro will face American justice in American courts on American soil,” Bundy said in a post on X. Authorities have not yet disclosed the specific charges against Cilia Flores.
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International condemnation
The US action has drawn condemnation from several countries, including Russia, China, and Colombia.
In a statement, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said the US had carried out an armed attack on Venezuela, calling it a serious violation that must be condemned. Colombia expressed concern, warning that unilateral military action contradicts the principles of the United Nations Charter.
Unclear damage and casualties
There is still no verified information on the extent of damage caused by the strikes or the number of casualties. Explosions were reported in multiple locations, with thick smoke seen rising from affected areas.
Venezuela: ‘We will not bow down’
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said the government had received no official information regarding the whereabouts of Maduro or Flores and demanded immediate proof that both were alive.
Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López said authorities were compiling details of those killed and injured. He announced the nationwide deployment of military forces and warned against the presence of foreign troops.
In a video address, Padrino described the US action as “the biggest attack ever against Venezuela” and called for national unity.
“We have been attacked, but we will not bow down,” he said.
Uncertain path ahead
With the US claiming control over Venezuela’s governance and key Venezuelan officials rejecting the intervention, the situation remains volatile. The developments raise serious questions about international law, regional stability, and the future political order in Venezuela as global attention remains fixed on the unfolding crisis.
