First night in custody
Maduro’s transfer to American soil occurred immediately after the military operation ordered by President Donald Trump. According to correspondent Eduardo Barão, the former Venezuelan leader and his wife, Cília Flores, spent their first night detained in New York. Images released by the White House show the moment in which Maduro, handcuffed and escorted by agents, arrived to wish “happy new year” in an ironic way.
The operation that resulted in the arrest was marked by intense violence in several regions of Venezuela. Newspaper reports The New York Times point out that the clashes left at least 40 dead, including Venezuelan civilians and military personnel. No casualties were recorded among the United States special forces who participated in the incursion in Caracas and other states.
Reaction in Venezuela and succession
Given Maduro’s absence, the Venezuelan Supreme Court of Justice ordered Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to take over the country on an interim basis. In an official statement, Rodríguez classified the American action as a “kidnapping” and reiterated that Maduro remains the only legitimate president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
The current Venezuelan administration has called on the population for a national mobilization against what it defines as foreign intervention. While Caracas is experiencing a scenario of political uncertainty, legal developments are advancing in the United States, where the Department of Justice is preparing the process that could keep Maduro in jail for the rest of his life.
Next steps in court
The hearing scheduled for tomorrow will be the first formal step in the judicial process on American soil. At that time, the court must detail the evidence that supports the allegations of narcoterrorism. The case is treated as a top priority by United States authorities, who are closely monitoring the impact of the arrest on the stability of Latin America.
For international diplomacy, the outcome of the military operation represents a drastic change in relations between Washington and Caracas. The expectation now revolves around Maduro’s appearance before the federal judge, where his defense is expected to appear for the first time after the beginning of confinement in Brooklyn.
