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Venezuela's Maduro appears in New York court, with U.S. capture under scrutiny

Posted on: Jan 03, 2026 18:33 IST | Posted by: Cbc
Venezuela's Maduro appears in New York court, with U.S. capture under scrutiny

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A proposed Mexican Senate meeting scheduled for today to approve bilateral military activities with the U.S. — including the entry of U.S. Navy special forces for naval exercises — was cancelled the same day that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was detained by U.S. Forces. The cancellation is widely viewed as a consequence of Maduro's capture.

During the daily morning news conference, Sheinbaum was asked about the relationship between Mexico and the U.S.

"We work with the United States on training, communication and information, and that form of co-ordination is good. But intervention is not an option.”

Caracas is "slowly going back to normal," said Venezuelan journalist Lila Vanorio.

"It's been surprising how few police displays are seen," Vanorio said. "People are cautious about demonstrating in favour [of] or against" the U.S. Capture and removal of Maduro.

Behind closed doors, though, opinions are divided, she said. While much of the Venezuelan population wanted change, whether the actions of a foreign country were worth it is up for debate.

"The mood is optimistic, but they fear this is not necessarily what they hoped for," Vanorio said of opposition politicians, including Maria Corina Machado. "Not everyone agrees with having the U.S. Control the oil industry or country."

Vanorio also noted that Rodriguez and other politicians still in power were all part of Maduro's government. But there is a sense that "maybe it's a smoother way to make a transition and to do the changes that need to be done in Venezuela."

After Trump suggested the U.S. Would "run" Venezuela in the wake of Maduro's capture, he mused where else he might apply military pressure.

While on Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said U.S. Military action could soon be coming to Colombia and Mexico, adding Cuba may simply fall on its own.

In an interview with The Atlantic magazine, also published on Sunday, Trump reiterated his desire to take over Greenland, saying: "We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security."

Here is a brief roundup of Trump's words over the weekend:

In her daily briefing to the media this morning, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum doubled down on Mexico's opposition to the U.S.'s attack on Venezuela and extradition of the country's president.

"We categorically reject intervention in the internal matters of other countries," Sheinbaum said, according to Reuters, reiterating an earlier statement.

She added that Mexico is a sovereign country and is co-operating with the U.S. On drug trafficking and security.

Sheinbaum's statement follows comments by Trump over the weekend, suggesting military action in Mexico and Colombia to combat drug cartels.

"It is necessary to reaffirm that in Mexico the people rule, and that we are a free and sovereign country — co-operation, yes; subordination and intervention, no," Sheinbaum said.

Columbia University professor Jeffrey Sachs, who regularly serves as an adviser to the UN, is presenting to the Security Council.

He told the member states through video conference that the issue before them today is not the "character of the government of Venezuela" but whether any member state "by force, coercion or economic strangulation has the right to determine Venezuela's political future or to exercise control over its affairs."

He said that question goes to Article 2, Section 4 of the UN Charter, which "prohibits the threat or use of force and calls on all members to respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of other States."

"The council must decide whether that prohibition must be upheld or abandoned," said Sachs, who is also the director of Columbia University's Center for Sustainable Development.

In the statement from Guterres read by DiCarlo, the Secretary General suggested the U.S. May have contravened the UN Charter with its weekend strike on Venezuela and extraction of its political leader.

"The charter enshrines the prohibition of threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state," DiCarlo said, reading from Guterres' statement.

"I remain deeply concerned that rules of international law have not been respected with regard to the January 3 military action."

UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary A. DiCarlo is delivering a statement from UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who cannot be present at today's Security Council meeting.

"I am deeply concerned about the possible intensification, the instability in the country, potential impact on the region and the precedent it may set for how relations between and amongst states are conducted," DiCarlo read from the lengthy statement.

Protestors are gathering and making their voices heard outside the courthouse holding placards and chanting slogans.

There are protestors on both sides: those in opposition to what they are calling an illegal invasion by the U.S. Into Venezuela as well as Venezuelans themselves who are happy that Maduro is gone.

Many are speaking to the media who are swarmed around them, making walking down the sidewalk almost impossible.

I spoke with a Venezuelan man, Will Contreras, who was wrapped in a Venezuelan flag. He and another man told me this is the best thing that could have happened to Venezuela. They emphasized how little people in Venezuela have, pointing to a scarcity of gas, and food.

The streets are full of police, media and protesters, as well as people in lower Manhattan just trying to go about their daily lives or get married at the city clerk's office just across the street.

As expected, there's a big Spanish-language media presence. Inside the courthouse, after going through security and having your phone held, there's a long line for the press already forming to get into the overflow courtrooms. With about two hours to go before the hearing, the main courtroom where Maduro will appear is apparently already full.

Security inside say they're expecting to let media into the overflow rooms — of which there are many, as often happens in other high-profile trials at this courthouse — around 11:30 a.m. ET, but they haven't received any orders yet.

Several U.S. Media outlets, including the New York Times and CNN, are reporting that Maduro’s court-appointed lawyer for his initial appearance today will be longtime criminal defence lawyer David Wikstrom.

It could be several months or even more than a year before Maduro stands trial, and it's likely he will also secure private counsel.

Reuters is reporting that Maduro's case is expected to be overseen by U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein – a 92-year-old judge who was assigned to the 2020 case brought against Maduro in Trump's first term. Maduro denied the accusations at that time, too.

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