Ousted Venezuelan Leader Maduro Maintains Claim to Presidency Amid US Court Appearance

Ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro appeared in a New York federal court on Monday, pleading not guilty to drug trafficking and related charges following his capture by US forces in a high-profile raid on his Caracas residence over the weekend.

Maduro, 63, told the Manhattan judge, “I’m innocent. I’m not guilty,” asserting he was the legitimate president of Venezuela and describing his detention as a kidnapping since January 3. He appeared in an orange shirt and beige trousers, speaking through an interpreter.

His wife, Cilia Flores, also pleaded not guilty. The judge ordered both to remain in custody and scheduled the next hearing for March 17.

The couple’s arrest came after a US operation involving commandos, airstrikes, and a naval deployment in the Venezuelan capital. Thousands marched in Caracas in support of Maduro, while his former deputy, Delcy Rodriguez, was sworn in as interim president.

Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado criticized Rodriguez, calling her a key figure behind “torture, persecution, corruption, and narcotrafficking,” and indicated plans to return to Venezuela after leaving the country to receive a Nobel Peace Prize.

Former US President Donald Trump declared that the United States now “controls” Venezuela and intends to manage the nation’s oil industry, dismissing the prospect of elections in the immediate future. However, US House Speaker Mike Johnson suggested elections should take place “in short order.”

Maduro, who succeeded Hugo Chavez in 2013, has been accused by the US and EU of election manipulation and suppressing opponents, leaving Venezuela’s 30 million citizens and its vast oil reserves in uncertainty. Trump indicated he would work with Maduro’s former team if they comply with US demands on oil, and Rodriguez has expressed willingness to cooperate.

Experts warn the political situation remains precarious. Former US diplomat Brian Naranjo highlighted potential power struggles, citing Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and Jorge Rodriguez, president of Venezuela’s legislature, as possible challengers to Delcy Rodriguez’s authority.

The US operation reportedly involved nearly 200 personnel. Havana stated 32 Cuban nationals were killed during the raid, while US officials reported some injuries but no fatalities among their forces. Observers note Trump’s actions signal an unprecedented assertiveness in US foreign policy, raising concerns over adherence to international law.