1 month after Maduro abduction, Venezuela moves to reassure China its investments are safe

US president announces efforts being made to strike a deal having earlier threatened to stop island importing oil Washington is negotiating with Havana’s leadership to strike a deal, Donald Trump has said, days after threatening Cuba’s reeling economy with a virtual oil blockade . “Cuba is a failing nation. It has been for a long time but now it doesn’t have Venezuela to prop it up. So we’re talking to the people from Cuba, the highest people in Cuba, to see what happens,” Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida on Sunday. Continue reading...

President also claimed US refineries will process seized Venezuelan oil, saying ‘we take the oil’ Donald Trump on Saturday said he would impose a 100% tariff on all Canadian imports if the North American country makes a trade deal with China . Beside that tariff threat, another Trump foreign policy maneuver to make news on Saturday involved the president announcing the US had taken the oil that was on recently seized Venezuelan tankers. Continue reading...

Since September, military has carried out more than 30 strikes against boats that it alleges smuggle drugs The US military said on Friday that it carried out a strike on a vessel in the eastern Pacific, killing two people. “Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations,” the US Southern Command said in a statement . Continue reading...

Seizing of vessel in Caribbean Sea is seventh apprehension in Trump’s campaign to control Venezuela’s oil flows The US military said it seized another oil tanker with links to Venezuela on Tuesday, in the Caribbean Sea. The report marks the seventh such apprehension since the start of Donald Trump’s month-long campaign to control Venezuela’s oil flows. Continue reading...

The Cubans had served as part of the security detail of Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela’s ousted president.

US marines boarded foreign-flagged crude carrier Veronica in a pre-dawn operation backing Trump’s sanctions push The US military has seized another oil tanker at sea in support of Donald Trump ’s sanctions against Venezuela, military officials announced on Thursday. Veronica, a crude oil tanker that marine records suggest is sailing under a Guyanese flag, was boarded in a pre-dawn action by US marines and sailors, the US Southern Command said in a post on social media . Continue reading...

Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel prize winner had been sidelined by White House after US seized Maduro Donald Trump will host María Corina Machado , the Venezuelan opposition leader and 2025 Nobel peace prize winner, at the White House on Thursday for a high-stakes talks on the oil-rich nation’s future following the US capture of Nicolás Maduro . Many in Venezuela and abroad had expected Machado to take charge after an elite US military team seized Maduro in a pre-dawn raid on 3 January and transported him to a New York City jail . Continue reading...

NGOs estimate that there are still close to 1,000 political prisoners in Venezuela despite claims by new leaders The United States has welcomed the release of US citizens by Venezuela , which has been freeing political prisoners in a process that NGOs describe as slow and opaque. Many in the country also warn that, despite efforts by the regime to appear more open after the seizure and rendition of Nicolás Maduro , repression continues, with residents still having their mobile phones searched by armed militias on the streets and afraid to engage in any form of public protest. Continue reading...

No more Venezuelan oil or money will flow to the communist-run island after Maduro’s fall, says US president Donald Trump has told Cuba to “make a deal” or face unspecified consequences, adding that no more Venezuelan oil or money would flow to the communist-run Caribbean island that has been a US foe for decades. As Cuba, a close ally of Venezuela and major beneficiary of its oil, braced for potential widespread unrest after Nicolás Maduro was deposed as the South American nation’s leader, the US president ramped up his threatening language on Sunday. Continue reading...

State department says armed ‘colectivos’ appear to be setting up roadblocks and searching vehicles for Americans The United States has urged its citizens to leave Venezuela immediately amid reports that armed paramilitaries are trying to track down US citizens, one week after the capture of the South American country’s president, Nicolás Maduro. In a security alert sent out on Saturday, the state department said there were reports of armed members of pro-regime militias, known as colectivos , setting up roadblocks and searching vehicles for evidence that the occupants were US citizens or supporters of the country. Continue reading...

In moves that embodied the contradictions and fast-changing nature of the two countries’ relationship, both said on Friday that they were eyeing reopening embassies and restoring long-severed diplomatic ties.

Security forces have boarded buses, searched phones and interrogated people, looking for evidence that they welcomed the capture of Nicolás Maduro.

Trump demands Venezuela open up to US oil companies or risk more military action. Plus, justice department has released less than 1% of Epstein files Don’t already get First Thing in your inbox? Sign up here Good morning. Donald Trump and his advisers are looking at “a range of options” in an effort to acquire Greenland , noting in a White House statement on Tuesday that using the US military to do so is “always an option”. How are the US’s European allies responding? In a show of solidarity on Tuesday, the leaders of France, Germany, the UK and other countries issued a joint statement with the prime minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen, urging the US to respect its sovereignty. They said Arctic security was a top priority for Nato, a defense alliance that includes the US and Greenland. “Greenland belongs to its people,” the statement said. What would a deal of this kind signify? Top Venezuelan officials have called Maduro’s capture a kidnapping and accused the US of trying to steal the country’s vast oil reserves. However, Tuesday’s agreement is a strong sign that the government is responding to Trump’s demand that it open up to US oil companies or risk more military intervention. Continue reading...

Statement on supposed agreement with Venezuelan government follows Trump’s threats of further military intervention My colleague Jakub Krupa is reporting in more detail on the European reaction to Trump ’s comments and potential plans for Greenland . You can follow that here: Donald Trump ’s administration is freezing more than $10bn in federal childcare and family assistance funds to California , Colorado , Illinois , Minnesota and New York , the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said, citing what it called concerns about fraud and misuse. Continue reading...

In today’s newsletter: Leaders’ refusal to condemn the US’s intervention in Caracas shows a desperation to keep the White House on side – but a red line might not be far away Good morning. The dramatic seizure of Nicolás Maduro from Caracas by US forces, to face trial in New York, has sent diplomatic shock waves around the world. For European leaders, it has exposed an uncomfortable dilemma: how to welcome the removal of an authoritarian ruler without endorsing an action that many legal experts say tramples over international law. Politicians in opposition, of course, are freer to speak their minds. In the UK, the Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, said that “where the legal certainty is not yet clear, morally I do think it was the right thing to do”, while Liberal Democrat Ed Davey demanded that Keir Starmer condemn what he unequivocally described as an “illegal action in Venezuela”. Greenland | Donald Trump and his advisers are looking into “a range of options” in an effort to acquire Greenland , noting in a White House statement on Tuesday that using the US military to do so is “always an option”. UK politics | The government must find ways to reconnect emotionally with voters, Keir Starmer’s chief of staff is said to have warned cabinet ministers, in a meeting where the prime minister said they were in “the fight of our lives” . Crans-Montana fire | Authorities in Crans-Montana have said the bar that caught fire in the Swiss ski resort on New Year’s Eve, killing 40 mainly young partygoers, had not been inspected by safety officers for the past five years. Spain | A foundation representing Princess Leonor, the 20-year-old heir to the Spanish throne, has warned that scammers are using AI-generated videos of the princess posted by fake profile pages to cheat social media users out of money. US politics | The Trump administration has abandoned efforts to combat child exploitation, human trafficking and cartels as it diverts thousands of law enforcement personnel to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Democratic senators said in a letter to the White House. Continue reading...

Brazil, China, Colombia, Cuba, Eritrea, Mexico, Russia, South Africa and Spain condemn attack at UN meeting. Plus, why the world’s food system needs urgent change Don’t already get First Thing in your inbox? Sign up here Good morning. The US was roundly denounced for a “crime of aggression” at an emergency meeting of the UN security council on Monday after the Trump administration’s deadly strikes on Venezuela and the capture of its leader, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores. What’s the latest on the US “running” Venezuela? The Republican speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, insisted the US was not at war with the country – but the Democratic Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer, warned that the US was on the brink of being dragged into a fresh conflict. How many officers have been diverted? More than 28,000 federal law enforcement personnel have been diverted from their regular duties to work for ICE’s enforcement and removal operations, according to an ICE document from August 2025. Continue reading...

Nicolás Maduro, the ousted Venezuelan leader, and his wife are scheduled to face charges of drug trafficking and other crimes. President Trump suggested the U.S. could take action against other countries, including Colombia and Mexico.

US officials have warned of further military intervention if Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, fails to meet their demands. Plus, how gun-safety advocates are riding a ‘seismic’ wave to US legislatures Don’t already get First Thing in your inbox? Sign up here Good morning. Nicolás Maduro, the deposed Venezuelan president, is expected to appear in Manhattan federal court on Monday afternoon on drugs and weapons charges after US special forces seized him in a shocking raid at the weekend. What is the reaction in Caracas? While some quietly rejoiced at Maduro’s demise , the traumatic night-time assault on the city prompted stockpiling, uncertainty and fear. What’s the global impact of Trump’s slashing of climate science? It’s substantial. Scientists and forecasters around the world depend on US satellites and studies to track extreme weather in Europe, plan disaster responses in the Caribbean and monitor deforestation in the Amazon. Continue reading...

In today’s newsletter: Saturday’s capture of Nicolás Maduro by the US was as unexpected as it was swift – but what led Trump to topple the South American regime? Good morning. Over the weekend, the US attacked Venezuela with a series of airstrikes and captured the country’s leader, Nicolás Maduro, along with his wife, Cilia Flores, seizing them from their bedrooms and flying them to New York on Saturday evening. Donald Trump announced that the US would “run” Venezuela for an unspecified period. Perhaps most striking was how explicit Trump was about the reasoning behind the military action. He said the aim was for US companies to take control of Venezuela’s oil infrastructure for their own benefit. “We have the greatest oil companies in the world, the biggest, the greatest, and we’re going to be very much involved in it,” Trump said. Venezuela | The prospect of the United States seizing direct control of Venezuela appeared to recede on Sunday after the shocking seizure of President Nicolás Maduro – but US officials said Washington was keeping a 15,000-strong force in the Caribbean and might make a fresh military intervention if Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, did not accommodate their demands. EU | Keir Starmer has said closer ties with the EU single market are preferable to a customs union in his clearest sign yet that the UK government is seeking to further deepen links with Brussels. Weather | Transport delays, treacherous driving conditions and school closures will greet many people as they return to work and study after the Christmas break, with winter weather warnings in place across the UK . Crans-Montana fire | Investigators have identified the last 16 people who died in the New Year’s Eve bar fire at the Swiss mountain resort of Crans-Montana, police said on Sunday. Germany | German leftwing militants protesting over the climate crisis and AI have claimed responsibility for an arson attack that cut power to tens of thousands of households in Berlin. Continue reading...

Delcy Rodríguez adopts conciliatory tone as she stands in for Nicolás Maduro after Venezuelan leader captured by American forces and brought to US Tense calm spreads at border with Colombia after Maduro capture Analysis: European leaders appear torn in face of new world order European leaders emerged divided and torn as they tried to welcome the ejection of Venezuela’s authoritarian president but still uphold the principles of international law that did not appear to allow Donald Trump to seize Nicolás Maduro , let alone declare that the US will run Venezuela and control its oil industry . Europe tried to focus on the principle of a democratic transition, pointing out that the continent had not recognised Maduro as the legitimate leader of Venezuela since what were widely regarded as fraudulent elections in June 2024 . Continue reading...

The president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, was captured, flown to the US and is facing trial in New York. What does it mean for the country – and the world? In the early hours of Saturday morning, scenes unfolded on the streets of the Venezuelan capital Caracas that could have come from a blockbuster movie. The power was cut, explosions ripped through the city and the US military swept in. The country’s president, Nicolás Maduro, was snatched from his home … and from power. For months Trump has been waging a maximum pressure campaign against Maduro. He accused him of being responsible for drug trafficking and illegal immigration into the US. A huge naval armada was moved to the Caribbean and fishing boats were attacked. Continue reading...

Delcy Rodríguez is the torchbearer of a government whose revolutionary roots are in disarray. She must appease constituencies who loathe U.S. meddling while fielding Washington’s demands.

Washington keeping 15,000-strong military presence in Caribbean in case interim president hinders US objectives US politics live The prospect of the United States seizing direct control of Venezuela appeared to recede on Sunday after the shocking seizure of President Nicolás Maduro – but US officials said Washington was keeping a 15,000-strong force in the Caribbean and might make a fresh military intervention if Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, did not accommodate their demands. While Rodríguez kept up a defiant tone in public, the substance of conversations she had had in private with US officials was not clear. Continue reading...

Donald Trump’s capture of Nicolás Maduro follows months of military campaign and years of strained relationship US attacks Venezuela – live updates The US carried out airstrikes across Venezuela overnight on Friday, with explosions rocking the capital, Caracas, before dawn. Shortly afterwards, Donald Trump announced that US forces had captured the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores, and flown them out of the country. The US attorney general, Pam Bondi, said they would face trial in New York on charges of involvement in narco-terrorism. A fresh indictment was issued on Saturday. Continue reading...

Venezuelan leader is expected to make an initial appearance in Manhattan federal court on Monday after capture by US forces Full report: Trump says US will ‘run’ Venezuela Explained: Is there legal justification for the US attack on Venezuela? Keir Starmer also told the BBC that he thinks we are living in a more “volatile” world than we have been for “many, many years” and said global affairs have much more of a “direct impact” on the UK than they have in a long time, citing the effects of military conflicts and the climate crisis. Asked if Donald Trump is worsening global turmoil, Starmer dodges the question and speaks about the so-called special relationship between the UK and the US. The relationship between the US and the UK is one of the closest relationships in the world. It is vitally important for our defence, for our security, for our intelligence. It is my responsibility to make sure that relationship works as the prime minister of this country, working with the president of the United States. Not only have I stepped up to that responsibility, I have made it my business and I do get on with President Trump. Continue reading...

The Trump administration faced scrutiny over its plans for Venezuela after seizing President Nicolás Maduro and bringing him to New York to face drug trafficking charges. President Trump said the United States would “run the country,” but there were few indications of how.

David E. Sanger, our national security correspondent, describes the implications of President Trump’s launching of the attack that captured the Venezuelan president, and Trump’s declaration that the United States would “run the country.”

Trump is no longer bending the rules – he is demolishing them, with consequences far beyond Caracas US strikes on Venezuela – live updates Hardly anyone expected 2026 to be a year of peace, and it was barely two days old when the worst fears were confirmed. The overnight strikes on Venezuela, the abduction of its leader, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife , and Donald Trump’s declaration that the US would “run” the country and sell its oil, have driven another truck through international law and global norms. But that is not even the most concerning thing about it. Continue reading...

Mr. Maduro has “multiple indictments in the United States for narcoterrorism,” the vice president said.

It was not immediately clear what caused the blasts. The United States has been building pressure on Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela’s authoritarian president, for months.

Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro warns Trump administration may ‘destabilise the entire region’ amid rising tensions While all eyes are on the four-month-long US military campaign against Venezuela, the White House has been quietly striking security agreements with other countries to deploy US troops across Latin America and the Caribbean. As Donald Trump announced a blockade on oil tankers under sanctions and ordered the seizure of vessels amid airstrikes that have killed more than 100 people in the Caribbean and the Pacific, the US secured military deals with Paraguay, Ecuador, Peru and Trinidad and Tobago in the past week alone. Continue reading...

Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro warns Trump administration may ‘destabilise the entire region’ amid rising tensions While all eyes are on the four-month-long US military campaign against Venezuela, the White House has been quietly striking security agreements with other countries to deploy US troops across Latin America and the Caribbean. As Donald Trump announced a blockade on oil tankers under sanctions and ordered the seizure of vessels amid airstrikes that have killed more than 100 people in the Caribbean and the Pacific, the US secured military deals with Paraguay, Ecuador, Peru and Trinidad and Tobago in the past week alone. Continue reading...

Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro warns Trump administration may ‘destabilise the entire region’ amid rising tensions While all eyes are on the four-month-long US military campaign against Venezuela, the White House has been quietly striking security agreements with other countries to deploy US troops across Latin America and the Caribbean. As Donald Trump announced a blockade on oil tankers under sanctions and ordered the seizure of vessels amid airstrikes that have killed more than 100 people in the Caribbean and the Pacific, the US secured military deals with Paraguay, Ecuador, Peru and Trinidad and Tobago in the past week alone. Continue reading...

Vessel does not appear to be on list of US-sanctioned vessels, which would represent escalation in blockade US forces on Saturday apprehended a second merchant vessel carrying oil off the coast of Venezuela in international waters in the midst of an American blockade against the country’s oil, according to the US homeland security department. The stoppage follows the seizure by US forces of another oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast on 10 December. Both vessels were headed to Asia. Continue reading...

Trump had further said Nicolás Maduro’s ‘days are numbered’ as military has targeted alleged drug boats Two US fighter jets circled the Gulf of Venezuela on Tuesday, in what appeared to be an escalation of the Trump administration’s ongoing hostilities toward the South American country and its leftist leader, Nicolás Maduro. Venezuelans and South American media followed the flights in real time using websites like FlightRadar24 , which showed a pair of F/A-18 Super Hornets flying together into the narrow Gulf of Venezuela for about 40 minutes. The jets flew just north of Maracaibo, Venezuela’s most populous city. Continue reading...

Donald Trump has in recent months turned his attention to ousting Venezuela’s leader, Nicolás Maduro. But the US president and his secretary of war, Pete Hegseth, are under scrutiny over military strikes on suspected drug boats from Venezuela in the Caribbean Sea. This week, Jonathan Freedland speaks to the Guardian’s Tom Phillips about why people are accusing Trump of war crimes Archive: 60 Minutes, CBS News, ABC News, PBS Newshour, C-SPAN, Al Jazeera English, CBS Miami, City News, CBC, Reuters Continue reading...

President Trump’s threat of military action has confronted President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela with the gravest challenge of his crisis-ridden reign.

President Trump’s threat of military action has confronted President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela with the gravest challenge of his crisis-ridden reign.

Defence secretary gave order for strikes but did not say to ‘kill everybody’, according to White House spokesperson Despite an apparent willingness to keep diplomatic channels open, tensions between Washington and Caracas remain high as US strikes against alleged drug boats in the Caribbean have been under way for months, along with a huge US military buildup in the region. Nicolás Maduro, in power since 2013, has said that Donald Trump wants to remove him from office and warned that Venezuelan citizens and the military will resist any such attempt. Continue reading...

Trump remained tight-lipped on details of call with Venezuelan president as tensions rise between countries Donald Trump confirmed on Sunday that he had spoken with Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro , but he did not provide details on what the two leaders discussed. “I don’t want to comment on it. The answer is yes,” the US president said when asked if he had spoken with Maduro. He was speaking to reporters onboard Air Force One. Continue reading...

President made declaration in a social media post, after FAA last week warned airlines of ‘worsening security situation’ Donald Trump said on Saturday that the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela is to be closed in its entirety. Trump, in a Truth Social post said: “To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY.” Continue reading...

President made declaration in a social media post, after FAA last week warned airlines of ‘worsening security situation’ Donald Trump said on Saturday that the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela is to be closed in its entirety. Trump, in a Truth Social post said: “To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY.” Continue reading...

Cuban diplomat says Havana ready for dialogue with US, but certain things are off the table, including the constitution.

Newly-appointed Laura Dogu's visit comes as Venezuela moves to privatise its oil sector under pressure from Trump.

Government supporters carry a cutout of former President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores during a rally marking the anniversary of the 1958 coup that overthrew Venezuelan dictator Marcos Pérez Jiménez, in Caracas, Venezuela, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) 2026-01-31T22:35:46Z CARACAS (AP) — U.S. Ambassador Laura Dogu arrived in Caracas on Saturday to reopen the American diplomatic mission in Venezuela after seven years of severed ties. The move comes almost one month after a military action ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump removed the South American country’s then-leader Nicolás Maduro from office. “My team and I are ready to work,” Dogu said in a message posted by the U.S. Embassy in Venezuela ‘s account on X. It also posted pictures of her upon her landing at Maiquetia airport. Venezuela and the United States broke off diplomatic relations in February 2019 in a decision by Maduro and closed their embassies mutually after Trump gave public support to lawmaker Juan Guaidó in his claim to be the nation’s interim president in January of that year. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, one of Venezuela’s most powerful politicians and a Maduro loyalist, said earlier in January that reopening the U.S. embassy would give the Venezuelan government a way to oversee the treatment of the deposed president, who is jailed in the U.S. freestar.queue.push(function () { window.fsAdCount = window.fsAdCount + 1 || 0; let customChannel = '/dynamic_' + fsAdCount; let adList = document.querySelectorAll(".fs-feed-ad") let thisAd = adList[fsAdCount]; let randId = Math.random().toString(36).slice(2); thisAd.id = randId; let thisPlacement = fsAdCount == 0 ? "apnews_story_feed" : "apnews_story_feed_dynamic"; freestar.newAdSlots({ placementName: thisPlacement, slotId: randId }, customChannel); }); Venezuela’s foreign minister Yván Gil said in a message on Telegram that Dogu’s arrival is part of a joint schedule to “deal with and resolve existing differences through diplomatic dialogue, in a foundation of mutual respect and (based on) international law.” Dogu, who was also an ambassador in Nicaragua and Honduras, arrived in Venezuela one day after the country’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, announced an amnesty bill to release political prisoners. That move was one of the key demands of the Venezuelan opposition. ___ Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

Trump signs executive order ramping up pressure on Havana's oil supplies in wake of US abduction of Venezuela's Maduro.

The Trump administration has pressured Venezuela to increase foreign access to the country's large oil reserves.

US has asserted control over Venezuela on key issues of sovereignty and made threats of further military attacks.

Delcy Rodriguez receives loyalty pledge weeks after dozens killed in US military operation to abduct Nicolas Maduro.

The Trump administration does not "intend or expect" to again take military action in Venezuela, Marco Rubio said.

The president says Mexico's decision 'to sell or give oil to Cuba for humanitarian reasons' was a 'sovereign' one.

Ambassador Carlos de Cespedes says US pressure 'will not subjugate' Cuba as Venezuelan oil exports to island dry out.

President Donald Trump arrives at Joint Base Andrews, Md., after attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) 2026-01-23T22:51:03Z WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military said Friday that it has carried out a deadly strike on a vessel accused of trafficking drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, the first known attack since the raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro earlier this month. U.S. Southern Command said on social media that the boat was “engaged in narco-trafficking operations” and that the strike killed two people and left one survivor. It said it notified the Coast Guard to launch search and rescue operations for that person. A video accompanying the post announcing the latest strike shows a boat moving through the water before exploding in flames. The U.S. military has focused lately on seizing sanctioned oil tankers with connections to Venezuela since the Trump administration launched an audacious raid to capture Maduro and bring him to New York to face drug trafficking charges . freestar.queue.push(function () { window.fsAdCount = window.fsAdCount + 1 || 0; let customChannel = '/dynamic_' + fsAdCount; let adList = document.querySelectorAll(".fs-feed-ad") let thisAd = adList[fsAdCount]; let randId = Math.random().toString(36).slice(2); thisAd.id = randId; let thisPlacement = fsAdCount == 0 ? "apnews_story_feed" : "apnews_story_feed_dynamic"; freestar.newAdSlots({ placementName: thisPlacement, slotId: randId }, customChannel); }); The last boat strikes occurred in late December, when the military said it struck five alleged drug-smuggling boats over two days, killing a total of eight people while others jumped overboard. Days later, the Coast Guard suspended its search. The U.S. conducted a “large-scale strike” in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, on Jan. 3 that led to the capture of Maduro and his wife, who were then flown to New York to face federal drug trafficking charges. Maduro, before his capture, said the U.S. military operations were a thinly veiled effort to oust him from power . President Donald Trump has repeatedly said that the U.S. strikes targeting alleged smugglers are having an enormous impact on slowing drug trafficking routes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. “We’ve stopped — virtually stopped almost 100% of all drugs coming in by water,” Trump said in remarks on Wednesday at the World Economic Forum at Davos.

How oil-rich Venezuela fell from 1970s stable democracy to a crisis that led to the January 2026 US raid on Caracas.

Rafael Tudares Bracho, who is married to Gonzalez's daughter, was arrested shortly before Maduro's third inauguration.

Venezuelans share their opinions on US interference

The Wall Street Journal reports the White House is seeking Cuban officials willing to cut a deal on regime change.

US has moved to assert strict control over production and sale of Venezuelan oil since attacking the country this month.

Flames rise from flare stacks at the Amuay refinery in Los Taques, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix) 2026-01-20T21:48:13Z WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. military forces boarded and took control of a seventh oil tanker connected with Venezuela on Tuesday as the Trump administration continues its efforts to take control of the South American country’s oil. U.S. Southern Command said in a social media post that U.S. forces apprehended the Motor Vessel Sagitta “without incident” and that the tanker was operating in defiance of President Donald Trump’s “established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean.” The military command did not say whether the U.S. Coast Guard took control of the tanker as has been the case in prior seizures . The Pentagon did not immediately respond to questions for more details. The Sagitta is a Liberian-flagged tanker and its registration says it is owned and managed by a company in Hong Kong. The ship last transmitted its location more than two months ago when exiting the Baltic Sea in northern Europe. freestar.queue.push(function () { window.fsAdCount = window.fsAdCount + 1 || 0; let customChannel = '/dynamic_' + fsAdCount; let adList = document.querySelectorAll(".fs-feed-ad") let thisAd = adList[fsAdCount]; let randId = Math.random().toString(36).slice(2); thisAd.id = randId; let thisPlacement = fsAdCount == 0 ? "apnews_story_feed" : "apnews_story_feed_dynamic"; freestar.newAdSlots({ placementName: thisPlacement, slotId: randId }, customChannel); }); The tanker was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department under an executive order related to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The post from U.S. Southern Command, however, indicated the ship had taken oil from Venezuela. It said the capture of the tanker “demonstrates our resolve to ensure that the only oil leaving Venezuela will be oil that is coordinated properly and lawfully.” The military command posted what appeared to be aerial footage of the Sagitta sailing on the ocean, but unlike in prior videos the clip did not show U.S. forces flying toward it in helicopters or landing on the deck of the ship. Trump told reporters just hours before the announcement that the U.S. already has taken 50 million barrels of oil out of Venezuela. “We’ve got millions of barrels of oil left,” he said at the White House. “We’re selling it on the open market. We’re bringing down oil prices incredibly.” MICHAEL BIESECKER Biesecker is a global investigative reporter for The Associated Press, based in Washington. He reports on a wide range of topics, including human conflict, climate change and political corruption. twitter instagram mailto

Warnings come as Mexico's Sheinbaum says 'compelling results' in tackling drug cartels, following Trump strike threats.

The bodies of 32 Cuban soldiers killed during the US bombing of Venezuela have been returned to Cuba.

US forces say another Venezuela-linked tanker seized as Trump moves to take control of nation's oil reserves.

The tanker, Veronica, was seized in a predawn operation "without incident", the US military's Southern Command says.

Machado has argued that the opposition has a 'mandate' to succeed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

US President Donald Trump meets with Venezuelan opposition leader at the White House, their first in-person meeting.

Trump showers acting Venezuelan president with praise after first phone call since US abduction of President Maduro.

A US state department official did not confirm the identities or number of prisoners released, but called the move "an important step in the right direction".

The Venezuelan opposition figure has been largely frozen out of discussions over the country's future.

Diaz-Canel rejects Trump’s threats, emphasising Cuba's independence and commitment to defending its sovereignty.

Penitentiary Services Ministry says those freed had been 'deprived of their liberty' for disruptive acts.

Opposition groups say release triggered by 'political chess moves' following US abduction of Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro.

Colombia’s president responds to US pressure and what it means for sovereignty and stability in Latin America.

The media reportage of the US attack on Venezuela is telling, from the Trumpian language to predictable narratives.

President Donald Trump said his administration will decide which oil companies are allowed to operate in Venezuela.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Gustavo Petro calls for 'shared government through dialogue' in Venezuela, leading to elections.

US State Department officials are visiting Caracas less than a week after the military abduction of Nicolas Maduro.

President Donald Trump aims to control and revive Venezuela's oil industry. Critics call it modern-day colonialism.

Operation comes days after US seized Russian-flagged tanker; US pledges to continue blockade following Maduro abduction.

US president also says he will meet oil executives at tWhite House on Friday to discuss Venezuela's oil industry.

Former Venezuelan opposition candidate Enrique Marquez is among 'large number' of prisoners released.

Venezuela’s interior minister says US operation to abduct Maduro killed 100 people and wounded dozens.

With the repressive machinery Maduro used still in place, many Venezuelans are scared to celebrate his departure.

The US is the world’s largest oil producer, so why does it need Venezuela’s low-grade crude?

US president says he will control oil sales, proceeds, as Venezuela's Rodriguez pledges no 'foreign agent' is in charge.

The BBC's Cuba correspondent, Will Grant, explains what's the nature of the relationship between Venezuela and Cuba.

Legislative efforts to check Trump's military authority on Venezuela falter amidst partisan divides in Congress.

The talks are held as Russia continues attacking Ukraine's energy sector and under the shadow of US threats to annex Greenland.

Condemnation comes as Nicolas Maduro appeared in a court in New York and pleaded not guilty to drug charges.

Denmark and Mexico, also threatened by US President Donald Trump, warn that the US violated international law.

Delcy Rodriguez said she was pained by what she called the "kidnapping" of Maduro and his wife.

After capturing President Nicolas Maduro, the US says it will 'run' Venezuela. What led here, and what happens next?

As Nicolas Maduro pled not guilty in a US court on drug charges, Venezuela’s UN addressed the Security Council.

Petro criticizes Trump, calling US threats an undue interference in Colombian internal matters under international law.

Donald Trump claimed the US will ‘run’ Venezuela, his top diplomat Marco Rubio insisted the US would not be in charge.

Acting President Delcy Rodriguez calls for a 'balanced and respectful' relationship with Washington during transition.

Donald Trump has threatened Colombia’s president following the US’s abduction of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

Trump told reporters that the US is ready to carry out a second strike on Venezuela if its government doesn't cooperate.

UN Security Council to discuss the US abduction of Maduro, wife, as Trump insists control of Venezuela.

US president says a military operation focused on Colombia's government 'sounds good' to him.

Trump said Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodríguez could "pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro" if she "doesn't do what's right".

Havana declares two days of mourning for the Cubans killed in US's operation to capture Nicolas Maduro.

Venezuelans are divided between fear of ongoing US intervention and celebrating Maduro's removal.

“They're [China] working with other Latin American and Caribbean countries to say, This isn't right.”

Protesters have rallied worldwide after Donald Trump announced the US would ‘run’ Venezuela.

Video shows Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro arriving at the Drug Enforcement Agency detention centre in New York.

US President Donald Trump says Venezuela’s opposition leader Maria Corina Machado lacks the respect to run the country.

Trump says the US will ‘take back’ Venezuela’s oil, arguing it should be used to reimburse Washington for past spending.

US attacks on Venezuela could fuel greater destabilisation in Latin America and spur a further exodus from the country.

The US has bombed Venezuela and toppled President Nicolas Maduro, who was abducted with his wife and taken to New York.

President Donald Trump announced that the US will run Venezuela until a 'proper transition can take place.'

Trump confirms Maduro has been captured and flown out of Venezuela during joint US operation lasting under 30 minutes.

Donald Trump says the US has carried out a 'large scale strike' against Venezuela and captured its president.

Donald Trump says the US has carried out a 'large scale strike' against Venezuela and captured its president.

The government of President Nicolas Maduro declares ‌a national ‌emergency after series of attacks across the country.

Venezuela leader strikes conciliatory tone while renewing claim US wants to topple government for vast oil reserves.

Second release of prisoners related to 2024 election protests seen as possible conciliatory move from Maduro.

US hit a dock in Venezuela where boats are loaded with drugs, Trump says, as Pentagon carries out another deadly strike.

The president said it was a dock area "where they load the boats up with drugs".

A US official told Reuters that Washington will focus on targeting Venezuela oil in lieu of 'military options'.

UN experts criticise US blockade for endangering human rights and call for an investigation into alleged violations.

Venezuela's UN ambassador denounces US military strikes, naval blockade at a meeting of the UN Security Council.

Government of President Nicolas Maduro denounces US seizure of oil tankers as illegal acts of piracy.

The US president also says the US intends to keep the tankers it has intercepted off the coast of Venezuela.

Trump warned Maduro to 'not play tough', while the Venezuelan leader said Trump should focus on his own country.

Latest threat comes as US coastguard continues to pursue a third oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela.

Ernesto Castaneda, talks about why some in US President Donald Trump’s cabinet are pushing for a war with Venezuela.

The move comes days after President Donald Trump said that he was ordering a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela.

The incident marks the second time in recent weeks that the US has seized an oil tanker near Venezuela.

New sanctions come days after the Trump administration imposed a blockade on Venezuela's oil tankers.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio holds year-end news conference, with Gaza, Venezuela and USAID likely to top agenda.

Assange said awarding Venezuela opposition leader is a 'gross misappropriation' of funds, risks facilitating war crimes.

Trump ramps up pressure with major military force deployed.

White House deputy chief of staff says US 'created the oil industry in Venezuela' as tensions intensify with Caracas.

US President Donald Trump has ordered a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela.

The order comes a week after the US military seized an oil tanker off Venezuela's coast.

Historian Alan McPherson tells Marc Lamont Hill how the US is carrying out a regime change campaign in Venezuela.

The seizure is set to escalate tensions between the US and Venezuela as Trump continues his 'maximum pressure' campaign.

Venezuelan leader expresses hope phone call marks beginning of 'respectful dialogue' between Washington and Caracas.

Conflicting US claims on Venezuela are escalating fast - from “closed” airspace to defending deadly vessel strikes.

Donald Trump declared Venezuela's airspace 'closed' on Saturday.

No immediate response from Venezuela after President Trump’s makes the announcement on social media on Saturday.

US leader's post comes amid weeks of escalating rhetoric by US officials against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Venezuela will ensure that Chinese energy, trade and investment interests in the South American country are secure, its envoy to Beijing has said. The reassurance from Remigio Ceballos comes amid growing concern in Beijing that last month’s unprecedented US assault on Venezuela might complicate China’s ties with the resource-rich country and the wider region. “China and Venezuela are trusted partners who share mutual trust. Both nations are sovereign states, and their bilateral relationship...

We have selected seven of the most interesting and important news stories covering Latin America relations from the past few weeks. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. US won’t rule out pressuring Venezuela to curb China, Russia ties In the wake of the abduction of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro on January 3, the White House stopped short of denying reports that America had urged Venezuela to cut ties with US adversaries such as China, Russia and...

All known American citizens being held in Venezuela have been released, the U.S. Embassy said Friday evening. "We are pleased to confirm the release by the interim authorities of all known U.S. citizens held in Venezuela," the embassy wrote on X. "Should you have information regarding any other U.S. citizens still detained, please contact American Citizen Services." No other details about the detainees were disclosed. Fox News Digital has reached out to the State Department. VENEZUELA’S DELCY RODRÍGUEZ SNAPS AT WASHINGTON, DECLARES ‘ENOUGH’ OF US INFLUENCE Interim authorities have slowly released American detainees in the weeks since the U.S. capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. Both are being held in New York City on federal narco-terrorism charges. Earlier this month, Venezuela's interim government reported that 116 prisoners had been released, although only about 70 have been verified by the non-governmental organization Justicia, Encuentro y Perdón, according to Bloomberg. STATE DEPT CONFIRMS 'LIMITED NUMBER' OF PERSONNEL IN CARACAS WORKING TO RESUME VENEZUELA DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS Earlier this month, the U.S. government announced a travel alert advising against travel to the country. Americans in the country were advised to depart immediately. "The security situation in Venezuela remains fluid. The U.S. Embassy in Bogotá, Colombia, warns U.S. citizens not to travel to Venezuela, reiterating warnings against travel to Venezuela dating to 2019. As international flights have resumed, U.S. citizens in Venezuela should leave the country immediately." The country is being run by Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodriguez, Maduro's former lieutenant. This week, Rodriguez signed a law overhauling the nation's oil sector, opening it to privatization and reversing a core policy of the socialist government that has ruled Venezuela for more than two decades. On Jan. 10, President Donald Trump said American energy companies will invest $100 billion to rebuild Venezuela’s "rotting" oil infrastructure and push production to record levels.

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he had informed Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, that he would open up all commercial airspace over Venezuela, and Americans would soon be able to visit Trump said he instructed his transport secretary, Sean Duffy, and US military leaders to take steps to open Venezuelan airspace for travel by the end of the day. “American citizens will be very shortly able to go to Venezuela, and they’ll be safe there,” the Republican president...

Venezuela opposition leader María Corina Machado argued that a successful democratic transition for her country would rapidly transform the nation's economy and reverse years of instability, reshaping the region’s political landscape. Machado told the New York Post in an interview that such an outcome would define Trump’s foreign policy legacy, comparing it to the fall of the Berlin Wall. "The legacy to the world is going to be huge," she explained. "You’re going to have a prosperous Venezuela and the region.… If you make a comparison in history, this would mean for the Americas as much as the fall of the Berlin Wall had for Europe. It’s equivalent. "For the first time in history, you will have the Americas free of communism, dictatorship and narco-terrorism for the first time," she added. POST TRUMP MEETING, VENEZUELAN OPPOSITION LEADER SAYS COUNTRY WILL HOLD 'FREE AND FAIR' ELECTIONS 'EVENTUALLY' Machado said she intends to return to Venezuela soon to help drive a democratic transition despite the risks she faces under the country’s current government. "I need to be there. I want to go back as soon as possible," Machado said. Her planned return would come at a pivotal moment for Venezuela, as interim President Delcy Rodríguez leads a U.S.-backed transition following the removal of Nicolás Maduro. Rodríguez, a close ally of Maduro, was sworn into office on Jan. 5 after U.S. forces ousted the ex-leader and his wife, Cilia Flores, from their compound in Caracas during a military operation. VENEZUELAN OPPOSITION LEADER MARÍA CORINA MACHADO PRESENTS NOBEL MEDAL TO TRUMP DESPITE INSTITUTE BAN The duo were flown to New York and arraigned in federal court on multiple charges to which they pleaded not guilty. Rodríguez has since been working with the White House and has spoken with President Donald Trump by phone. Machado, however, voiced deep reservations about Rodríguez’s leadership, warning that the transition risks falling short without a broader break from the Maduro-era government. "If Delcy Rodríguez stays, nothing truly changes," she told the Post. "There will be no rule of law, no trust, no stability. Venezuelans will not come home under a criminal."

The recent drama surrounding US action in Venezuela, its renewed interest in Greenland and tariff threats on governments that object, along with comments on Cuba, Colombia and Mexico, appear disjointed – part diplomacy, part law enforcement, part political theatre. Like many observers, I rely on the news to try to make sense of the policy logic and what it may mean for those who have to live with its consequences. Washington’s rationale for its actions in Venezuela was initially framed as law...

Venezuela’s interim president will soon visit the United States, a senior US official said Wednesday, further signalling US President Donald Trump’s willingness to embrace the oil-rich country’s new leader. Delcy Rodriguez would be the first sitting Venezuelan president to visit the United States in more than a quarter of a century – aside from presidents attending United Nations meetings in New York. She said on Wednesday that she approached any dialogue with the United States “without...

US military forces boarded and took control of a seventh oil tanker connected with Venezuela on Tuesday, as part of the Trump administration’s broader efforts to take control of the South American country’s oil. US Southern Command said in a social media post that US forces apprehended the Motor Vessel Sagitta “without incident” and that the tanker was operating in defiance of US President Donald Trump’s “established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean”. The military command did...

US President Donald Trump’s actions in Venezuela and the kidnapping of the country’s president, Nicolas Maduro, have put Russia and China – widely considered two of Caracas’ most important international partners – in a difficult position. If they do not significantly reduce ties with the Latin American nation, they risk Washington’s retaliation. But who has more to lose, Moscow or Beijing? Unlike previous American leaders, Trump has not made any pretence about protecting democracy and human...

Trump administration officials had been in discussions with Venezuela’s hardline Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello months before the US operation to seize the country’s leader, Nicolas Maduro, and have been in communication ‌with him since then, according to multiple people familiar with the matter. The officials warned Cabello, 62, against using the security services or militant ruling-party supporters overseen by him to target the country’s opposition, four ‍sources said. That security...

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said on Friday her country was starting a “true transition” to democracy and would become free with support from the US and President Donald Trump. Trump, however, has sidelined Nobel laureate Machado and backed former vice-president Delcy Rodriguez as interim leader of the oil-rich country following the January 3 US military operation that seized Nicolas Maduro. “We are definitely now into the first steps of a true transition to democracy,”...

Interim Venezuela President Delcy Rodríguez announced Wednesday that her government will continue to release prisoners detained under the rule of former President Nicolás Maduro in an initiative she touted as a "new political moment," according to The Associated Press. Her comments came just days after the interim government freed at least four U.S. citizens detained in Venezuela, marking the first known release of American prisoners since Maduro was ousted in a U.S. military operation earlier this month. During her first press briefing since becoming acting leader, Rodríguez reportedly told journalists in Caracas that the process of releasing detainees "has not yet concluded," emphasizing that the effort to free those held under Maduro’s rule is ongoing. Rodriguez then promoted a "Venezuela that opens itself to a new political moment, that allows for ... political and ideological diversity," the AP reported. VENEZUELA RELEASES MULTIPLE AMERICAN CITIZENS FROM PRISON FOLLOWING MILITARY OPERATION The outlet added that possibly 800 prisoners, including political leaders, soldiers and lawyers, are still being detained, citing Venezuelan human rights organization Foro Penal. Rodriguez also claimed her government had already released 212 detainees, but human rights organizations have estimated lower figures, The AP added. TRUMP SIGNS ORDER TO PROTECT VENEZUELA OIL REVENUE HELD IN US ACCOUNTS The Maduro ally insisted that the prisoner releases do not signal a break from the past and are not the direct result of U.S. pressure, but she credited the effort to the ousted president, The AP reported. She said Maduro oversaw the release of 194 detainees in December, noting that he did so because he "was thinking precisely about opening spaces for understanding, for coexistence, for tolerance," according to the outlet. While Rodríguez has not provided a detailed framework for determining who will be released, she said decisions will be guided by an evaluation of " crimes related to the constitutional order," warning that "messages of hatred, intolerance, acts of violence will not be permitted." The actual coordination of these releases will be handled by Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello. President Donald Trump said Wednesday he recently had a "great conversation" with Rodríguez, their first since Maduro was captured and flown to the U.S. to face drug-trafficking charges. "We had a call, a long call. We discussed a lot of things," Trump said. "And I think we’re getting along very well with Venezuela." The Associated Press contributed to this report.

A Venezuela-linked oil tanker operating in the so-called "dark fleet" painted a Russian flag on its hull, changed its name, and reflagged to Russia in an apparent bid to evade the U.S. Coast Guard, according to reports. The vessel has since been spotted off Ireland, with the U.S., U.K., France and Ireland reportedly conducting aerial surveillance after it escaped U.S. interception in December, The Times reported. Meanwhile, Russia has reportedly since deployed a submarine and naval assets to escort the tanker to its own waters, the Wall Street Journal reported late Tuesday. Russia’s state-controlled foreign media outlet RT shared a video filmed from the tanker’s deck, allegedly showing a U.S. Coast Guard cutter following the vessel. The tanker, Bella 1, had renamed itself Marinera and registered under the Russian flag after fleeing the region, according to an intelligence report from AI maritime analytics firm Windward. TREASURY TARGETS OIL TRADERS, TANKERS ACCUSED OF HELPING MADURO EVADE U.S. SANCTIONS "Runaway Venezuela-trading tanker Bella 1 painted a Russian flag on its hull, changed its name, and reflagged to Russia mid-voyage last week to avoid capture by the U.S. Coast Guard in the Atlantic Ocean," Windward said. Multiple reports said Tuesday the vessel is now under U.S. military surveillance roughly 230 miles off the Irish coast . According to reports, U.S. P-8 surveillance aircraft have tracked the tanker off Ireland only in recent days. CBS News reported that U.S. forces have pursued the vessel since December, as Washington intensified enforcement against Venezuelan oil shipments. Intelligence sources said Venezuela had considered placing military personnel aboard oil tankers disguised as civilians to help vessels evade U.S. blockades and that U.S. forces are likely preparing to intercept the tanker. The pursuit of the vessel follows strikes in Venezuela under the Trump administration and the Jan. 3 capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM TRUMP'S PUSH TO PUT US OIL FIRMS BACK IN VENEZUELA Maduro appeared in a New York court on Monday, where he pleaded not guilty to narco-terrorism charges and said he was a "prisoner of war." On Jan. 1, Russia had formally asked the U.S. to stop its pursuit of the vessel, according to Reuters . Citing two people familiar with the matter, Reuters reported that Moscow made the diplomatic request as U.S. forces continued tracking the vessel for nearly two weeks in the Atlantic. The request came as Trump simultaneously sought to broker a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine, Reuters added. TRUMP’S VENEZUELA STRIKE SPARKS CONSTITUTIONAL CLASH AS MADURO IS HAULED INTO US TankerTrackers.com alleges the vessel previously transported millions of barrels of Iranian and Venezuelan crude to China between 2021 and 2025. "Bella 1, now known as Marinera, is not alone," Windward said. The tanker has been under U.S. Treasury sanctions since June 2024, accused of transporting illicit oil cargoes linked to a Hezbollah-connected company. "The very large crude carrier is joining a growing fleet of Western-sanctioned tankers seeking protection under Russia’s national flag," the firm added. "Over the past six months, a dozen or more of the darkest tankers operating globally have switched from open registries to Russia. This trend accelerated in December as the flag state emerged as a critical shield against drone strikes and vessel seizures." VENEZUELA ORDERS NATIONWIDE MANHUNT FOR SUPPORTERS AFTER MADURO'S ARREST BY US FORCES Windward also identified two additional Western-sanctioned tankers currently in Venezuelan waters that have reflagged to Russia in recent days to prevent U.S. naval interception. The tanker Hyperion departed Venezuela on Jan. 1 flying the Russian flag, while Premier signaled via AIS that it changed its flag from Gambia to Russia on Dec. 22. "Premier remains at the José Terminal in Venezuela," Windward said. Fox News Digital has reached out to the U.S. Coast Guard and the White House for comment.

Venezuelan authorities have been ordered to find and arrest anyone involved in supporting the military operation that led to the arrest of Nicolás Maduro. A state of emergency decree issued Saturday, but published Monday, orders police to "immediately begin the national search and capture of everyone involved in the promotion or support for the armed attack by the United States," according to the text of the decree, Reuters reported. It was not clear what charges could be levied against those taken into custody. Maduro made his first court appearance Monday in New York, days after he and his wife were arrested by U.S. forces over the weekend. FETTERMAN DEFENDS TRUMP'S VENEZUELA MILITARY OPERATION AGAINST CRITICISM FROM FELLOW DEMOCRATS Both have been charged by the Justice Department with narco-terrorism and other offenses. "I am innocent. I am not guilty of anything that is written here," Maduro said in court as the charges against him were read. DEMOCRATS LABEL TRUMP'S VENEZUELA OPERATION AN 'IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE' In Maduro's absence, Delcy Rodríguez, his former number two, has been sworn in as the interim president of Venezuela. Rodriguez, 56, has long been a confidant and backer of Maduro. She was the country's vice president from 2018 through Sunday. Despite denouncing the U.S. military operation, Rodriguez said in a Sunday social media post that the country aspires towards balanced and respectful international relations between Caracas and Washington . "We invite the US government to collaborate with us on an agenda of cooperation oriented towards shared development within the framework of international law to strengthen lasting community coexistence," she wrote.

The U.S. capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife on Saturday is reviving memories of the dramatic 1989 takedown of Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega, which coincidentally took place 36 years ago to the day of Maduro's Jan. 3 capture. Under former President George H.W. Bush, U.S. forces launched a surprise invasion of Panama in the early hours of Dec. 20, 1989, accusing Noriega of conspiring with drug traffickers to funnel cocaine into America. He had also faced allegations of manipulating the country's 1989 presidential election. MADURO MET CHINESE ENVOY HOURS BEFORE US CAPTURE FROM CARACAS AS BEIJING SLAMS OPERATION "The goal was to restore the democratically elected government of Guillermo Endara and arrest Noriega on drug trafficking charges," the U.S. Army's website states. "At the time, Operation Just Cause was the largest and most complex combat operation since the Vietnam War." Similarly to Saturday's operation involving Maduro, the Panama invasion proceeded without explicit authorization from Congress, according to Axios . Noriega’s capture, however, unfolded over several weeks as he evaded arrest by taking refuge inside the Vatican’s embassy in Panama City . U.S. troops used psychological warfare to force Noriega out of hiding. In a tactic known as Operation Nifty Package, military vehicles with loudspeakers blasted non-stop rock music with a playlist that included songs by The Clash, Van Halen and U2, BBC News reported. Noriega surrendered to U.S. forces Jan. 3, 1990, 36 years to the day before the U.S. capture of Maduro, and was flown to America to stand trial, Axios reported. MADURO-BACKED TDA GANG’S EXPANSION INTO US CITIES EMERGES AS KEY FOCUS OF SWEEPING DOJ INDICTMENT The operation resulted in the deaths of 23 U.S. service members and left 320 others wounded. The Pentagon estimated that roughly 200 Panamanian civilians and 314 Panamanian military personnel were killed, according to The Associated Press. In 1992, Noriega was convicted on drug trafficking charges in a Miami federal court and received a 40-year prison sentence. He was granted prisoner-of-war status, housed in a separate bungalow away from other inmates and was allowed to wear his Panamanian military uniform and insignia in court, the AP reported. WASHINGTON POST PRAISES TRUMP'S VENEZUELA OPERATION AS 'UNQUESTIONABLE TACTICAL SUCCESS' After serving 17 years in a U.S. prison, he was extradited to France and later Panama. He died in 2017. President Donald Trump announced Saturday that Maduro and his wife had been captured and flown out of the country as part of Operation Absolute Resolve. In recent months, the U.S. military has carried out a series of strikes on suspected drug vessels allegedly liked to the Venezuelan regime in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific. Until a permanent leader can be found, the U.S. government will "run" Venezuela, Trump said, "until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition."

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro reportedly made a statement on television and radio early Saturday as the U.S. strikes against his country unfolded, describing them as an "attack against the sovereignty of Venezuela." The remarks came before President Donald Trump announced that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were "captured and flown out of the country" following a "large scale strike" carried out by the U.S. military. Attorney General Pam Bondi later said Maduro and Flores were indicted on charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy. In comments aired on state television and radio, Maduro alleged that U.S. forces attacked civilian and military sites in Venezuela’s capital of Caracas, as well as the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira, according to The Miami Herald. "This is an attack against the sovereignty of Venezuela," Maduro reportedly said as he stood alongside military and government officials. "It is an attempt to impose a colonial war and force political change by violence." LIVE UPDATES: TRUMP CONFIRMS OVERNIGHT STRIKES IN VENEZUELA, SAYS US HAS ‘CAPTURED’ MADURO Maduro also described the U.S. actions as a "grave military aggression" and violation of the United Nations charter , adding that it threatened peace across Latin America and the Caribbean, The Miami Herald reported. The U.S. has been carrying out a military campaign against alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific in recent months. MARIA CORINA MACHADO EMERGES AS TOP POTENTIAL SUCCESSOR AFTER MADURO'S FALL Maduro’s government cast the U.S. strikes on Saturday as part of a larger American effort to seize Venezuela’s oil and mineral reserves, according to The Miami Herald. The newspaper reported that state TV broadcasted images of Venezuelan soldiers deploying to strategic infrastructure and officials holding emergency meetings. As part of Maduro’s response, he also signed a decree that declared a nationwide state of "external disturbance," which gives his government sweeping powers during emergencies, including mobilizing security forces and limiting certain civil liberties, The Miami Herald added.

The U.S. deployed two fighter jets over the Gulf of Venezuela Tuesday, marking what appeared to be the closest known approach of military aircraft to Venezuelan airspace to date, according to reports. The F/A-18 jets were observed on Flightradar24 flying for roughly 30 minutes over the waters north of Venezuela, the Associated Press reported. A U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the short mission as a "routine training flight" designed to demonstrate the aircraft's operational reach. DAVID MARCUS: TRUMP'S AGGRESSION TOWARD VENEZUELA A WARNING TO PUTIN The official also did not disclose whether the jets were armed but did emphasize that the operation remained entirely within international airspace. Tuesday's dual flight follows months of heightened U.S. military activity in the region. Although the U.S. has previously flown B-52 Stratofortress and B-1 Lancer bombers along Venezuela’s coastline, those aircraft did not appear to approach as closely as Tuesday’s F/A-18s. MADURO’S FORCES FACE RENEWED SCRUTINY AS US TENSIONS RISE: ‘A FORTRESS BUILT ON SAND’ The increase in activity in the region first began after U.S. strikes on alleged drug-smuggling vessels in both the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific. The first reported U.S. military strike on a vessel that allegedly departed from Venezuela carrying drugs was in September. The Trump administration said the operations were essential to curbing illicit drug trafficking, though Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro continues to deny this. Tensions surrounding Venezuelan airspace escalated in November after President Trump instructed airlines to treat the region as effectively closed, aligning with FAA warnings to civilian carriers. SENATORS VOW PUSH TO PROHIBIT US MILITARY ACTION IN VENEZUELA IF TRUMP PURSUES STRIKES AGAINST THE COUNTRY Retired Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery, senior director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation previously told Fox News Digital that Venezuela’s most significant military threat stems from its own air-naval systems. He said that included fighter jets, limited surface vessels , and Russian-made surface-to-air missiles. "Reasonably speaking, in the first day or two of a campaign plan, we can eliminate the air and maritime threat to U.S. forces," Montgomery said. Isaias Medina, an international lawyer and former Venezuelan diplomat, also said Venezuela's own military capabilities look better on paper than in reality.