Maduro Pleads Not Guilty In US Court, Trump Issues Fresh Warnings
Venezuela remains on edge after ousted President Nicolás Maduro pleaded not guilty in a US court, even as violence, political uncertainty, and sharp international warnings continue to unfold following his dramatic capture by American forces.
Maduro and his wife appeared in a New York courtroom on Monday, where they denied all drug trafficking and weapons charges brought against them by US prosecutors.
Speaking defiantly before the judge, Maduro claimed he had been “kidnapped” from Caracas and said the charges were politically motivated. The case marks an unprecedented moment in US–Venezuela relations and has sent shockwaves across Latin America.
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Back in Venezuela, the situation remains tense. In the capital, Caracas, residents reported hearing gunfire and anti-aircraft fire overnight.
Venezuelan authorities said police opened fire on drones that were allegedly flying without permission over sensitive areas. Security has been tightened across the city as fears of further unrest grow.
Politically, the country is now deeply divided over who is actually in power. Maduro’s close ally and Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez has been sworn in as acting president by Venezuela’s top court.
However, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that the United States is now “running” Venezuela until a transition takes place, a statement that has angered Maduro loyalists and drawn international criticism.
Trump has also widened the scope of the crisis with strong warnings to other countries in the region.
He said the US could take military action in Colombia if needed, warned Mexico to “get its act together” on drug trafficking, and once again stated that the US “needs Greenland,” raising eyebrows among allies and rivals alike.
Meanwhile, cracks are emerging over Washington’s approach to Venezuela’s opposition. Former US national security adviser John Bolton criticised the Trump administration, calling it a “major mistake” not to work closely with opposition leader María Corina Machado.
Bolton said sidelining the opposition and engaging with figures from Maduro’s inner circle risks giving legitimacy to an “illegitimate regime.”
Machado herself said she has not spoken to Trump since October. In a television interview, she thanked the US for acting against what she called a “narco-terrorist regime” and said Maduro’s capture would be remembered as a historic moment.
She also vowed to return to Venezuela “as soon as possible,” despite Trump publicly questioning her support within the country.
(With inputs from CNN)
