The ousted Venezuelan president, Nicolás MaduroHe appeared in a New York federal court on Monday for a preliminary hearing on charges brought by the U.S. Department of Justice. This appearance comes two days after his dramatic capture in Caracas during a U.S. military operation dubbed "Absolute Resolve." The former leader pleaded not guilty to several charges, including drug trafficking, conspiracy to import cocaine, and illegal possession of firearms, charges detailed in an indictment filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.
During the hearing, Maduro stated that he was still the legitimate president of Venezuela and that he was not guilty of the charges against him, asserting: "I am innocent" and describing his situation as that of a "prisoner of war"His wife, cilia floresShe, who was also charged, also pleaded not guilty before the judge. Alvin Hellersteinwhich ordered that Maduro remain detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn until at least March 17, the date of his next court appearance.
A shock operation
The operation that led to the arrest of Maduro and his wife was carried out on the night of January 3 by US forces in Caracas, sparking an international crisis and mixed reactions from the global community. The United States stated that the operation aimed to bring to justice a leader accused of running a corrupt regime involved in a vast drug trafficking operation to the United States, a case that resulted in a unified indictment in 2020.
After his arrest, Maduro was transported to the United States, initially aboard the USS Iwo Jima He was then flown to the New York area, where he arrived at a heliport before being brought before a Manhattan court. The federal indictment accuses him and other members of his entourage of conspiring with international criminal groups to smuggle large quantities of cocaine into the United States, allegations that the former president and his defense team vehemently deny.
Protests outside the courthouse
Maduro's court appearance was accompanied by protests outside the New York courthouse, where supporters waved Venezuelan flags and chanted slogans calling for his release, including demands for his release. “Free President Maduro”.
In Venezuela, the new National Assembly resulting from the May 2025 legislative elections, largely boycotted by the opposition, expressed its support for the ousted president, with some deputies chanting encouragement in his favor during the first parliamentary session since his capture.
Strong reactions in the diplomatic sphere.
The capture of Maduro and his transfer to US justice have provoked strong reactions in diplomatic circles. At the UN, Secretary-General António Guterres stressed the importance of respecting the sovereignty of states and the international order in the face of such complex operations, calling for restraint and respect for the principles of international law.
In Latin America, reactions were also polarized. The Colombian president Gustavo Petro He stated that he might "take up arms again" in response to threats from the US president. Donald Trump, in a context of growing tensions between the two countries. The President of Mexico, claudia sheinbaumasserted that America should not "to belong to no doctrine or power", highlighting the importance of the self-determination of peoples.
Several governments, including France, have criticized the method used by Washington to capture Maduro. The president Emmanuel Macron stated that the United States' approach was "Neither supported nor approved" by Paris, while reaffirming France's support for the principle of international law and the sovereignty of peoples, while describing Maduro as a dictator.
The case goes beyond a simple criminal trial, falling within a context of intense geopolitical rivalries in Latin America. The United States, under the Trump administration, has demonstrated its desire to reshape American influence in the region, including over Venezuela's vast oil resources. Critics of the operation emphasize that such action against a sitting head of state calls into question fundamental principles of sovereignty and could set a dangerous precedent in international law.
While Maduro remains in detention and his trial is being prepared for a later hearing in March, the situation continues to spark debate about the legitimacy of his arrest, the political future of Venezuela, and the implications for relations between the United States and Latin American nations.
