At a Glance
- Maduro captured during surprise U.S. raid in Caracas.
- He is now detained at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center.
- Trump claims a large-scale strike; UN warns of dangerous precedent.
- Why it matters: U.S. action sparks international tension and protests in Venezuela.
Venezuela’s president Nicolás Maduro was seized in a surprise U.S. raid in Caracas on Saturday night and has been held in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center since. President Donald Trump announced a large-scale strike and the capture of Maduro and his wife, while the United Nations cautioned that the move sets a dangerous precedent. Protests and celebrations have erupted both in the U.S. and in Venezuela.
Capture and Detention
Maduro and his wife, first lady Cilia Flores, were indicted in the U.S. for alleged narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and weapons offenses. Since arriving Saturday night, they have remained in the infamous Metropolitan Detention Center, a facility known for housing high-profile detainees.
President Donald Trump stated:
> “The U.S. has carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela early on Saturday and captured the country’s president Nicolás Maduro and his wife.”
International Reactions
- Protesters gathered outside the detention center to decry U.S. intervention.
- Venezuelans in South Florida celebrated Maduro’s capture.
- The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency meeting at 10 a.m.
- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said:
> “I am deeply alarmed by the recent escalation in Venezuela,” and that the U.S. actions “constitute a dangerous precedent.”
- Edmundo González, recognized by the U.S. and others as the winner of Venezuela’s 2024 election, posted a video claiming himself the president and urging the army to recognize him as commander-in-chief.
- Interim leader Delcy Rodríguez, the vice president under Maduro, appears to currently be leading the country.
Key Takeaways
- Maduro and Flores are now detained in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center.
- Trump claims a large-scale strike; UN warns of dangerous precedent.
- Venezuela’s political landscape shifts with interim leader Rodríguez and contested claims by González.
The U.S. move has intensified global scrutiny and domestic unrest, leaving the future of Venezuela’s leadership uncertain.
