The deposed Venezuelan President, Nicolas Maduro, was on Monday (today) escorted into a New York courthouse under heavy security to face narcotrafficking charges.
The development, which has deepened global tension and uncertainty over the future of the oil-rich South American nation, comes barely days after Maduro’s dramatic capture in Caracas.
The 63-year-old along with his wife, Cilia Flores, was seized on Saturday during a surprise United States military operation that involved helicopters, fighter jets and naval forces swooping into the Venezuelan capital.
On Monday morning, Maduro was transported to the courthouse by helicopter and armoured vehicle, surrounded by heavily armed US law enforcement officers.
He is facing long-standing narcotics trafficking charges, accusations Washington has repeatedly levelled against his administration over the years.
The dramatic arrest marked the culmination of months of escalating pressure from the United States, which has accused Maduro of running a narco-state and undermining democracy.
As events unfolded rapidly, Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodriguez, appeared to soften her initial defiant stance late Sunday by extending an olive branch to Washington.
“We extend an invitation to the US government to work together on an agenda for cooperation,” Rodriguez said.
The Venezuelan military, long loyal to Maduro, announced it recognised Rodriguez’s interim leadership and urged citizens to remain calm amid rising tension.
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