Trump-Venezuela LIVE updates: Deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, made their first court appearances in New York City, two days after the US captured them in a surprise attack. Both Maduro and his wife pleaded “not guilty” to drug trafficking and other federal charges.
Maduro also told the court he is “a decent man” and remains the legitimate President of Venezuela. He is next slated to appear before the court on March 17.
Maduro and Flores were charged in the US with narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy and weapons offences. President Donald Trump said the US is “in charge” of Venezuela and warned its interim leader to cooperate or pay a “very big price.”
Maduro pleads not guilty, calls himself a ‘prisoner of war’
Two days after being seized by US forces in Caracas, Nicolás Maduro appeared in a Manhattan federal courtroom and pleaded not guilty to charges including narco-terrorism and cocaine importation. Speaking through a translator, he declared, “I am innocent. I am still the president of my country,” and repeatedly referred to himself as a “prisoner of war.” His wife, Cilia Flores, also pleaded not guilty. Maduro’s lawyers signaled they may challenge the legality of his capture, citing his status as a former head of state
Trump and US officials assert control over Venezuela
Senior US officials, including President Trump and aides such as Stephen Miller and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, have emphasized Washington’s leverage over Venezuela following the raid. Hegseth revealed that nearly 200 US troops, including Delta Force soldiers and an FBI unit, participated in the Caracas operation. Trump said the US is “in charge” of Venezuela, citing military presence and control over the country’s economic levers. The White House has framed the operation as a law enforcement action targeting drug trafficking.
Trump projects Venezuela’s energy infrastructure could be rebuilt in under 18 months
Following Maduro’s removal, President Trump outlined plans to revive Venezuela’s crumbling oil sector, suggesting US companies could restore infrastructure and bring production back online in less than 18 months. “A tremendous amount of money will have to be spent, and the oil companies will spend it, and then they’ll get reimbursed by us or through revenue,” Trump said in an NBC interview. “I think we can do it in less time than that, but it’ll be a lot of money,” Trump said.
He also reiterated that Venezuelan elections are not possible in the near term, stressing that the country must first be stabilised and rebuilt. Senior officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Hegseth, and Vice President JD Vance, are expected to oversee US involvement as the rebuilding effort progresses.
Energy policy expert comments on Venezuela crisis
Energy policy expert Narendra Taneja said that even though Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world, it plays only a small role in global oil supply. He explained that the latest developments are unlikely to cause any immediate change in oil prices. Taneja also pointed out that the situation could open doors for Indian oil companies in the future, especially if sanctions on Venezuela are eased.
He said that Indian firms are familiar with Venezuela’s oil sector and have worked with the country for many years and added that Venezuelan crude is very heavy and cannot be processed by most refineries around the world. His comments came after the United States carried out a major military operation in Venezuela, following which President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were detained and taken out of the country.
Taneja said Venezuela currently produces around 9 lakh barrels of oil per day, most of which is exported to China. He added that production could rise sharply to about 3 million barrels a day within a year if the United States steps in.
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US-Venezuela Live Updates: Gunfire erupts near Venezuelan presidential palace in Caracas
Gunfire was reported Monday night near the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas. Videos geolocated by CNN show what appear to be drone lights and anti-aircraft fire lighting up the night sky.
The reason for the incident is currently unclear. Authorities in Venezuela have not yet provided official information. CNN has reached out to the Ministries of Communication and Foreign Affairs for comment
US-Venezuela Live Updates: Trump says oil companies could rebuild Venezuela’s energy sector in under 18 months
President Donald Trump said Monday he believes US oil companies could restore Venezuela’s battered energy infrastructure and get it back “up and running” in less than 18 months, though he acknowledged the effort would require a significant financial commitment.
“I think we can do it in less time than that, but it’ll be a lot of money,” Trump told NBC News. “A tremendous amount of money will have to be spent, and the oil companies will spend it, and then they’ll get reimbursed by us or through revenue.”
Trump has repeatedly voiced enthusiasm about US companies gaining access to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.
US-Venezuela Live Updates: Trump rules out Venezuelan elections in next 30 days
US President Donald Trump said Venezuela will not hold fresh elections within the next 30 days, arguing that the country must first be stabilised and rebuilt following the US operation that led to the capture of longtime leader Nicolás Maduro.
Speaking to NBC News on Monday, Trump said conditions on the ground make elections impossible in the near term. “We have to fix the country first. You can’t have an election. There’s no way the people could even vote,” he said, adding that Venezuela would need to be “nursed back to health” before going to the polls.
Trump said Washington is exploring options to rebuild Venezuela’s economy, with a particular focus on restoring the country’s oil sector
US-Venezuela Live Updates: 200 US troops were on the ground in Caracas during Maduro operation
Nearly 200 US military personnel were deployed on the ground in Caracas during the weekend operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Monday.
Speaking at a shipyard in Newport News, Virginia, Hegseth said the operation involved “nearly 200 of our greatest Americans” who entered downtown Caracas and carried out the mission in support of US law enforcement. He suggested that Venezuelan and Russian-supplied air defenses failed to detect the operation in time.
Hegseth said the raid included elite Army Delta Force soldiers and an FBI unit, though officials had previously declined to disclose how many US personnel were involved. “They grabbed an indicted individual wanted by American justice… without a single American killed,” he said.
US-Venezuela Live Updates: 'We are locked and loaded,' Trump's warning to Iran
The warning came as Trump threatened to intervene if Iranian security forces use deadly force against protesters. The unrest — described as the largest wave of demonstrations since 2022 — has reportedly left several people dead and comes amid soaring inflation, a historic collapse of Iran’s currency, and growing civil disobedience across multiple cities.
“If Iran violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue,” Trump wrote earlier on Truth Social. “We are locked and loaded and ready to go.” The president did not specify what form US action might take.
The US State Department issued an unusually blunt warning to Iran’s leadership on Monday as anti-government protests spread across the country, posting a rare warning in Persian that highlighted President Donald Trump’s readiness to act amid the escalating crisis.
“President Trump is a man of action. If you didn’t know before, now you do. Don’t mess with President Trump,” the State Department said in a post on its Persian-language X account, a message widely seen as directed at Iran’s senior leadership rather than the public.
US-Venezuela Live Updates:Delcy Rodríguez sworn in as Venezuela’s interim president
Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as Venezuela’s interim president on Monday, two days after US forces captured Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and transported them to New York to face trial. Rodríguez took the oath of office before the National Assembly, saying she was assuming the role “in the name of all Venezuelans.”
Rodríguez, who has served as Venezuela’s vice president since 2018, had already been effectively running the country since Maduro’s capture on Saturday. In her initial remarks following the operation, she struck a defiant tone, saying Venezuela would “never again be anyone’s colony.”
By Sunday evening, however, Rodríguez appeared to soften her stance, issuing a statement that invited the US government “to work jointly on an agenda of cooperation, aimed at shared development, within the framework of international law, and that strengthens lasting peaceful coexistence.”
US-Venezuela Live Updates: Maduro pleads not guilty in Manhattan court, calls himself a “prisoner of war”
As the hearing ended, Maduro declared himself a “prisoner of war,” a phrase he repeated several times during the proceedings. Speaking in Spanish through a translator, Maduro formally entered a plea of not guilty, saying: “I’m innocent. I’m not guilty. I am a decent man. I am still the president of my country.” He attempted to continue speaking, but was interrupted by the judge.
As Maduro tried to expand on his plea, saying he had been “kidnapped,” Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein stopped him and redirected the proceedings, making clear that the court would follow standard protocol.
US-Venezuela Live Updates: White House aide says US is “in charge” of Venezuela due to military presence
Senior White House aide Stephen Miller said Monday that the United States is effectively in control of Venezuela because American military forces remain positioned just outside the country. Speaking to CNN’s Jake Tapper, Miller said the US “sets the terms and conditions” for Venezuela as a result of its military leverage.
Miller argued that the presence of US forces off Venezuela’s coast gives Washington the ability to dictate outcomes on the ground. “By definition, we are in charge,” he said, adding that the threat posed by US military power has shaped Venezuela’s current political reality.
According to Miller, the US is also exerting pressure through economic means, effectively controlling whether Venezuela can conduct trade or run its economy. “For them to do commerce, they need our permission,” he said, describing economic leverage as central to US strategy.
US-Venezuela Live Updates: Maduro, wife escorted out of court
Maduro and his wife were escorted out of the court. Next hearing date is set for March 17, AP reported.
Earlier in the day, US Vice President JD Vance reacted to the violent attack at his Ohio residence. He appreciated his well wishers' best wishes. "I appreciate everyone's well wishes about the attack at our home. As far as I can tell, a crazy person tried to break in by hammering the windows. I'm grateful to the secret service and the Cincinnati police for responding quickly. We weren't even home as we had returned already to DC. One request to the media: we try to protect our kids as much as possible from the realities of this life of public service. In that light, I am skeptical of the news value of plastering images of our home with holes in the windows," he said.
US-Venezuela Live Updates: Maduro and his wife Cilia plead not guilty to drug trafficking charges at US court
Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores pleaded not guilty at the court. "I am a decent man, I'm still the president of my country," Maduro said, according to NBC News.
Maduro appears in New York court: Report
The Venezuelan president has now appeared for the first time in a New York courtroom, the AP news agency reports.
Maduro, wearing a blue jail uniform, and his wife were led into court around noon for a brief, but required, legal proceeding that will likely kick off a prolonged legal fight over whether he can be put on trial in the US. Both put on headsets to hear the English-language proceeding as it was translated into Spanish.
The couple were transported under armed guard early Monday from the Brooklyn jail where they’ve been detained to a Manhattan courthouse.
US-Venezuela Live Updates: Maduro’s son speaks to National Assembly, calls for ‘dignity without submission’
Nicolas Maduro Guerra, the son of Venezuela’s abducted president, has spoken to the country’s federal legislature, the National Assembly, which is meeting for the first time since the US attacks.
Maduro Guerra, a member of the assembly, said Venezuela plans to move forward “with international engagement that is balanced and respectful”.
He called for “respect for every country of the Americas”, stressing that Venezuela seeks “dignity without submission”.
US-Venezuela Live Updates: Maduro's son appears in front of Venezuelan lawmakers
The son of deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro appeared in Venezuela’s National Assembly on Monday where the country’s lawmakers elected in parliamentary elections last May are set to be sworn in.
US-Venezuela Live Updates: Maduro’s lawyer helped free Wikileaks founder Julian Assange
Maduro has retained Barry J. Pollack, a Washington, D.C.-based lawyer known for securing Assange’s release from prison and winning an acquittal for former Enron accountant Michael Krautz.
Pollack, a partner at the law firm Harris, St. Laurent & Wechsler, negotiated Assange’s 2024 plea agreement, allowing him to go free immediately after he pleaded guilty to an Espionage Act charge for obtaining and publishing US military secrets, according to AP.
In a message on X, Petro said his government has conducted record amounts of cocaine seizures and warned the Trump administration that it would kill children if it conducts strikes against drug trafficking groups and rebels in Colombia.
Petro, who was a member of a left wing guerrilla group in his youth, said he will “return to arms” if the US government stages attacks in Colombian territory. The Colombian leader said he recently fired Colombian intelligence officers who are feeding the US administration with “false information” on his government.
US-Venezuela Live Updates: Maduro arrives at New York courthouse
Deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro has arrived at the New York courthouse ahead of his hearing on drug trafficking charges.
'Maduro abduction is lawful, we're not at war with Venezuela,' says US envoy
The US envoy to the UN Mike Waltz has now spoken to the body, insisting the US is “not at war with Venezuela or its people”.
Waltz defended the US’s abduction of Maduro has “a law enforcement operation in furtherance of lawful indictments”.
US-Venezuela Live Updates: Mexico’s Sheinbaum again rejects US intervention in Venezuela
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has doubled down on Mexico’s opposition to Washington’s attack on Venezuela and extradition of the country’s president.
“We categorically reject intervention in the internal matters of other countries,” Sheinbaum said, reiterating an earlier statement.
The Mexican leader added that Mexico is a sovereign country and is cooperating with the US on drug trafficking and security.
US-Venezuela Live Updates: Spain condemns use of force in Venezuela, offers to mediate, says European Parliament
Spanish member of the European Parliament Hana Jalloul says Madrid is deeply concerned by events in Venezuela, warning that the use of force against the will of the population sets a “very bad precedent” and risks destabilising Latin America.
Jalloul said Spain has never recognised Venezuela’s last election results or President Nicolas Maduro, and has consistently supported the opposition, but rejects unilateral military action. She said Spain is calling for peace and for Venezuelans “to decide on their own matters”.
US-Venezuela Live Updates: How much oil does Venezuela have?
Venezuela has the world's largest proven oil reserves, with over 300 billion barrels available, even more than Saudi Arabia.
However, it accounts for less than 1% of the global oil production, a figure that was more than 10% of global production in the 1960s. Crude production has collapsed by more than 70% since the late 1990s, and Venezuela is now 21st in the list of global producers, DW News reported.
US-Venezuela Live Updates: Bangladesh voices concern over Venezuela
Bangladesh has expressed “concern” about the recent developments in Venezuela.
“Bangladesh believes that diplomacy and dialogue should prevail to solve all disputes between countries and reaffirms her steadfast commitment to the fundamental principles of the UN Charter and international law,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
US-Venezuela Live Updates: Switzerland freezes Swiss-based assets linked to Nicolas Maduro
With immediate effect, Switzerland is freezing any Swiss-based assets linked to Nicolás Maduro. If any assets turn out to be of illicit origin, Switzerland will do its best to ensure that these benefit the Venezuelan population, the Swiss government said.
The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency session on the United States' capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro today in New York City.
Venezuela formally requested the meeting of the council, which includes as permanent members China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as 10 other non-permanent member nations, according to a UN statement.
A spokesperson for U.N. Secretary General António Guterres said in a statement Saturday that the United States' actions in Venezuela "constitute a dangerous precedent."
US-Venezuela Live Updates: More photos of Maduro surface
Maduro shown being led out of a helicopter on his way to his first appearance in US federal court in New York.
US-Venezuela Live Updates: Russia warns its citizens against travel to Venezuela
The Russian Embassy in Caracas is warning its citizens to avoid travel to Venezuela.
"In connection with the U.S. armed aggression against Venezuela and threats of further attacks, Russian citizens are strongly advised to refrain from traveling to Venezuela unless absolutely necessary," said a warning from the embassy, distributed by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
More than 48 hours after the U.S. captured Maduro, thousands of Americans remain stranded abroad, with airlines scrambling to catch up after temporary airspace restrictions over parts of the Caribbean and Venezuela, NBC reported.
The restrictions, which were lifted on Sunday, affected more than a dozen airports and led to more than 1,000 flight cancellations during one of the busiest travel weekends of the year following the holidays.
US-Venezuela Live Updates: Heavy security outside Manhattan courthouse as Maduro arrives
Law enforcement officials secure the area of the Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse as Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro arrived for his initial appearance to face federal charges.
US-Venezuela Live Updates: Maduro's latest photo
In his latest photo, Maduro can be seen surrounded by several US officials. He arrived at the Downtown Manhattan Heliport this morning via a helicopter.
