Nicolas Maduro, along with his wife Cilia Flores, has touched down in the US after being apprehended on Venezuelan territory after a fast moving US military operation. The two now face federal charges for narcotics and firearms violations.
U.S. Military Arrests Maduro Following Federal Indictment
Current state of events.
As per two people with knowledge on the matter, Maduro is expected to get a federal court hearing in New York by Monday. He was moved to New York after being arrested earlier today during an unexpected military operation by the US.
Both Maduro and the Venezuelan first lady face federal indictments on charges including conspiracy to commit narcoterrorism, trafficking in narcotic drugs and possession of deadly weapons.
In statements to the media, then- President Trump outlined the long-term U.S. military plans to control Venezuela for its oil. While there, he stated he would consider using American military forces to secure Venezuela. Regarding the United States controlling military operations in Venezuela, Venezuelan Delcy Rodriguez asserted that her country will defend its oil.
Trump supporters back the removal of the foreign head of state, however, this has created extreme bipartisan concern in Washington. Some members of Congress have questioned the legal premise of this military action and how the consequence of this action could be another lengthy American military conflict.
Trump removing Maduro puts America’s safety at risk
Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Kamala Harris criticized the military action that removed Maduro, calling it misguided, even while acknowledging he was an authoritarian.
“Donald Trump’s actions in Venezuela do not make America safer, stronger, or more affordable,” Harris posted on X.
She compared conflicts driven by oil interests and regime change to the current U.S. involvement, stating, “Yes, Maduro’s brutal and illegitimate, and he is a dictator, but this is unlawful, and this is unwise.” She asserted that the U.S. involvement is unwarranted and that the American people don’t want this. “They are tired of being lied to. This is not a humanitarian issue. It is oil, and it is about power and control of that part of the world.”
8:55 PM EST – 24 minutes ago
Chávez’s Handpicked Successor Is Maduro
Maduro used to be a bus driver and worked in Caracas. His popularity started to rise during the Chávez era, who, by the time of his cancer, had started to view Maduro as his preferred successor.
One month following the death of Chávez in March 2013, Maduro became the elected president. He was again declared the winner in last year’s disputed elections by the electoral council, which the U.S. and a number of other countries countered by recognizing Edmundo González Urrutia, the opposition candidate, as president.
Chavez, who took office in February 1999, appointed Maduro as foreign minister for six years and then made him vice president in 2012. Before he died on March 5, 2013, Chavez urged Venezuelans to support Maduro as his successor, calling him a ‘true revolutionary’ qualified to guide the nation through tough times.
Maduro won a tightly contested election in 2013, achieving the position of Chavez’s successor.