Former US President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Venezuela’s newly appointed interim leader Delcy Rodríguez, cautioning that she could face consequences “probably bigger than Maduro” if she fails to align with US expectations. The threat came as ousted president Nicolás Maduro, captured in a dramatic US military operation, prepared to face New York court proceedings on drug trafficking and weapons charges.
The extraordinary capture operation unfolded early Saturday when US special forces stormed Maduro’s compound in Caracas, resulting in the detention and transportation of both Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, to American soil. The operation involved strikes on military installations including Fuerte Tiuna, one of Venezuela’s largest military bases, and resulted in significant casualties according to Venezuelan officials.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio vigorously defended the operation, characterizing it as a “law enforcement action” rather than an act of war. “We are at war against drug trafficking organizations. That’s not a war against Venezuela,” Rubio emphasized during multiple Sunday news program appearances. He asserted that congressional authorization was unnecessary since the operation involved FBI agents making arrests rather than military invasion.
The political transition in Venezuela saw Rodríguez sworn in as interim president by the nation’s Supreme Court, with full backing from the military establishment. She is scheduled to be formally inaugurated Monday in Caracas. However, the US maintains it does not recognize the legitimacy of the current regime structure.
International reaction has been sharply critical, with several nations including Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay and Spain condemning the US military action as “an extremely dangerous precedent for peace and regional security.” They expressed particular concern about external control that threatens regional stability and violates international law.
Domestically, Democratic lawmakers have denounced the operation as an unauthorized act of war. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have vowed to support legislation prohibiting further presidential action in Venezuela without congressional approval, arguing that such regime change operations historically cost American lives and treasure.
The Cuban government, a longstanding socialist ally of Maduro, announced two days of national mourning for 32 “brave Cuban combatants” killed during the operation, further escalating regional tensions surrounding this unprecedented intervention.