标签： North America

In an unprecedented geopolitical development, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores have been transported to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, following their capture during a large-scale American military operation in Venezuela. The dramatic events unfolded early Saturday morning, marking one of the most significant international incidents in recent history.

According to multiple intelligence reports and verified video evidence, the military aircraft transporting the Venezuelan leadership touched down at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, New York, approximately at 5:00 PM EST (2200 GMT) on Saturday. The operation represents a dramatic escalation in the ongoing tensions between the United States and the Venezuelan government.

The United States Department of Justice has unsealed a comprehensive indictment detailing serious charges against President Maduro and several associates. The allegations include narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and multiple weapons-related charges involving machine guns and destructive devices. Legal proceedings are scheduled to commence next week in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.

The extraordinary military action has triggered immediate international backlash and domestic criticism. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani revealed he had directly contacted President Donald Trump to express vehement opposition to what he characterized as an unlawful pursuit of regime change that violates both federal and international statutes. Demonstrators gathered outside the Newburgh air base to protest the US intervention in Venezuela.

Meanwhile, in Caracas, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez convened an emergency session of the National Defense Council, demanding the immediate release of the detained leadership. The session was broadcast nationally on state television, signaling the Venezuelan government’s determination to maintain continuity of governance amid the crisis.

BOGOTA, COLOMBIA – January 3, 2026, witnessed significant demonstrations outside the United States Embassy in Colombia’s capital, as protesters gathered to express solidarity with Venezuela following a dramatic military escalation. The protests emerged in direct response to early morning operations conducted by US military forces against Venezuelan targets, which reportedly resulted in the capture and extraction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Demonstrators, carrying signs and Venezuelan flags, congregated in Bogota to condemn what they characterized as an act of international aggression. The gathering reflected deep-seated regional tensions and differing ideological alignments within South America regarding the Venezuelan political crisis. Photographic evidence from the scene captured emotionally charged moments, including a woman holding a placard that articulated the protesters’ demands for sovereignty and non-intervention.

This development marks a severe intensification of the longstanding political confrontation between the United States and Venezuela, potentially altering the geopolitical landscape of Latin America. The embassy protests underscore how international conflicts can galvanize diaspora communities and sympathetic groups across borders, transforming diplomatic premises into focal points for political expression.

In the predawn hours of Saturday, a seismic shift in Venezuelan politics unfolded as U.S. special forces executed a dramatic operation to capture President Nicolás Maduro from his compound. The event triggered spontaneous celebrations across Miami’s Venezuelan diaspora, particularly in Doral where over 40% of residents claim Venezuelan heritage.

For Rosana Mateos, a Florida resident since 2012, the news realized years of recurring dreams about Maduro’s downfall. “My husband woke me saying they caught Maduro. I couldn’t believe it,” she recounted, describing the emotional moment she learned of the development many Venezuelan exiles had long anticipated.

The epicenter of celebrations emerged at El Arepazo restaurant, where hundreds gathered by noon with flags, music, and car horns creating a festival atmosphere. Bryan Marquez, who emigrated just two years ago from Tachira state, struggled to articulate his emotions: “We suffered under them. It was humiliating. That’s why so many of us left.”

Many attendees credited U.S. President Donald Trump for enabling their longed-for political change. “It’s an indescribable feeling,” Marquez added. “He’s really helped us… I don’t know what to say, except thank you.”

Yet beneath the celebrations simmered uncertainties about Venezuela’s political future. Trump’s press conference remarks created confusion, particularly his statement that the U.S. “is going to run Venezuela through a team that’s working with the people,” and his dismissal of opposition leader María Corina Machado’s governing capabilities.

Mateos expressed strong objections to any continued involvement of Maduro regime figures: “We do not accept a government of Delcy Rodriguez, or anyone that was part of the Maduro regime. They are dirty and corrupt.”

Some analysts within the community suggested Trump might need to maintain temporary oversight. “Donald Trump will have to do it for now,” commented marketing professional Elkin, who predicted the U.S. president would “move Venezuela towards a more inclusive transition.”

The events marked both a culmination of exile aspirations and the beginning of new political uncertainties for Venezuela’s future.

In a significant political development, Venezuela’s Supreme Court has officially designated Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as the nation’s acting president. This judicial directive comes amid heightened political tensions and follows recent military actions by foreign powers in the South American country.

The appointment, reported by multiple media outlets on January 4, 2026, represents a constitutional response to the extraordinary circumstances facing the Venezuelan government. Rodríguez, who previously served as Venezuela’s vice president, now assumes the highest office temporarily through judicial mandate rather than electoral process.

This transition occurs against the backdrop of captured former president Nicolás Maduro, whose detention resulted from recent international military operations targeting Venezuela’s leadership. The Supreme Court’s intervention demonstrates the continuing functioning of Venezuela’s judicial institutions despite external pressures and internal political challenges.

Rodríguez’s ascension to acting president marks a critical juncture in Venezuela’s ongoing political crisis, which has drawn international attention and involved multiple foreign governments. The judicial order provides constitutional continuity while the nation navigates complex geopolitical tensions and domestic uncertainty.

The development follows statements from Rodríguez herself, who previously affirmed Maduro as ‘the only president’ of Venezuela, indicating the complex political calculations underlying this judicial appointment. International observers are closely monitoring how this transition will affect regional stability and diplomatic relations.

Washington, D.C. – January 4, 2026: The United States faces mounting domestic criticism following a controversial military operation that resulted in the capture and extradition of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores. The pre-dawn strikes on Saturday targeted key military installations in Caracas, including Fort Tiuna and La Carlota Air Base, culminating in the apprehension of the Venezuelan leaders who were subsequently transported to New York for federal processing.

The operation has triggered a constitutional confrontation between the executive and legislative branches, with Democratic lawmakers leading charges of illegal warfare and executive overreach. Senator Tim Kaine condemned the action as “an unauthorized military attack” that represents “a sickening return to hemispheric domination policies.” Kaine announced plans to force a Senate vote on the War Powers Resolution as early as Tuesday, seeking to constrain presidential military authority.

Congressional criticism extended beyond partisan lines, with Representative Thomas Massie questioning the legal foundation: “If this operation were constitutionally sound, authorities wouldn’t reference a 1934 firearm law to justify arresting a foreign leader.” The administration faces accusations of misleading Congress about operational objectives, with Senator Andy Kim stating officials “lied to Congress about goals in Venezuela.”

The political discourse reveals divergent perspectives on the operation’s motivations. Multiple lawmakers and social media commentators allege resource-driven intentions, with Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Mark Pocan characterizing the action as prioritizing “might over right” for oil access. Conservative commentator Ana Navarro rejected Trump’s assertion that the US should “manage” Venezuela, calling the concept “insane” and “completely unhinged.”

While most Republican lawmakers supported the operation as a decisive strike against narco-terrorism, significant intra-party objections emerged. Senator Mike Lee demanded clarification on constitutional justification, and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene criticized selective foreign intervention, questioning why similar actions aren’t taken against Mexican cartels.

The captives arrived at Stewart Air National Guard Base before transfer to Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, briefed on detention plans, declared the capture “an act of war and violation of federal and international law.”

Social media platforms amplified public skepticism, with users across Reddit, X, and YouTube drawing parallels to historical resource conflicts and questioning the drug trafficking justification. The digital discourse reflects widespread skepticism about official narratives, with many commentators interpreting the operation as a pretext for securing energy resources rather than addressing narcotics trafficking.

In a dramatic escalation of international tensions, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez delivered a defiant national address on Saturday, emphatically declaring Nicolás Maduro as “the only president” of the Bolivarian Republic. The statement came hours after U.S. forces launched an unprecedented military operation against the South American nation, resulting in the capture and extraction of President Maduro and his wife.

Speaking through state-run television channels with key cabinet members including the Ministers of Interior and Foreign Affairs, Rodríguez issued a stern demand for the immediate release of the detained Venezuelan leaders. She characterized the pre-dawn operation as a violation of international law and national sovereignty, urging citizens to maintain composure while rallying behind the constitutional government.

‘The Venezuelan people must remain steadfast in defending our nation’s independence,’ Rodríguez asserted during her nationally televised appearance. ‘We will never transform into any nation’s colonial possession or become subservient to imperial powers.’

The vice president framed the incident as a regional security concern, warning that similar interventions could potentially target other sovereign states in Latin America. She emphasized Venezuela’s preparedness to protect its substantial natural resources from foreign exploitation.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump conducted a press conference confirming the military action, controversially claiming that Rodríguez had already assumed presidential powers and engaged in discussions with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. ‘She has demonstrated willingness to implement necessary measures to restore Venezuela’s greatness,’ Trump told White House reporters.

The international community has responded with widespread condemnation, with multiple nations and organizations expressing profound alarm over the unilateral use of military force against a sovereign government. Diplomatic channels are actively seeking resolution to the escalating crisis that threatens to destabilize regional geopolitics.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores have been transported to United States territory following a dramatic military operation conducted by American forces on Venezuelan soil. The controversial capture operation, which Venezuelan officials have denounced as a flagrant violation of national sovereignty, culminated in the couple’s arrival at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, New York aboard a US government aircraft on Saturday.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi has confirmed that the Venezuelan leader and his spouse will face multiple federal charges including narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States, and international drug trafficking offenses. The case represents an unprecedented escalation in the long-standing tensions between Washington and Caracas.

Venezuelan Vice-President Delcy Rodriguez issued an urgent demand for ‘proof of life’ documentation, stating that the government had lost contact with the presidential couple following the cross-border military intervention. The operation marks one of the most significant applications of US judicial authority against a sitting head of state in recent history.

The defendants are expected to be held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn pending their initial court appearance, which judicial sources indicate could occur as early as Monday. Legal experts anticipate this case will raise complex questions regarding international law, diplomatic immunity, and extraterritorial jurisdiction.