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Captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro pleaded not guilty in a New York federal court on Monday to US charges including narcotics trafficking and narco-terrorism, declaring himself “a decent man” and insisting he remains Venezuela’s legitimate leader following his dramatic seizure by US forces.
Maduro, appearing in court in a prison uniform and speaking through a Spanish interpreter, told the judge he had been “kidnapped.” His wife, Cilia Flores, also pleaded not guilty. The judge set the next hearing for March 17
The unprecedented US military operation over the weekend, which involved air and naval strikes and the transfer of Maduro to US custody, has triggered sharp international reactions and raised concerns over sovereignty and global stability.
Power shift in Caracas
Following Maduro’s removal, Venezuela’s National Assembly swore in Vice President Delcy Rodriguez as interim president. Rodriguez said she would seek a “balanced and respectful” relationship with Washington, even as the ruling party denounced the US action as illegal and vowed to pursue Maduro’s return.
Security was tightened across Caracas as authorities issued a decree ordering police to detain anyone accused of supporting the US intervention, raising fears of a renewed crackdown on dissent.
Erdogan warns against destabilisation
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he warned US President Donald Trump that Venezuela must not be pushed into further instability, stressing that violations of sovereignty could set a dangerous global precedent.
Erdogan said Turkey would stand with the Venezuelan people and underlined the importance of preserving the rules-based international order.
UN alarm and global divisions
The UN Security Council held an emergency session, with Russia and China condemning the US action as illegal, while the United States defended it as a lawful law-enforcement operation against what it called a “narco-terrorist” leader.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the seizure could deepen instability and undermine international norms.
Uncertain path ahead
While some Venezuelans abroad celebrated Maduro’s arrest, uncertainty dominates inside the country, where the opposition remains sidelined and the ruling elite retains control of key institutions and the military.
With information from Al Jazeera.
