US Says It Is Not at War With Venezuela as Maduro Set to Appear in New York Court

Melbourne, 5 January: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the United States is not at war with Venezuela, a day after US military strikes were carried out in the country.

Meanwhile, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who were captured by US forces, are set to appear in a federal court in New York on Monday, according to a spokesperson.

Venezuela’s Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino claimed that a large part of Maduro’s security team, as well as “innocent civilians”, were killed during the US operation. He described the action as “military aggression” and said the Venezuelan armed forces now support interim President Delcy Rodríguez.

The developments are significant because, despite former US President Donald Trump’s claim that the United States would now run Venezuela, Maduro’s allies still appear to be in control, according to South America analysts.

Trump told The Atlantic that Rodríguez would “pay a big price” if she “does not do what is right”.

A Venezuelan citizen told the BBC he is deeply worried about whether there will be a peaceful transition of power in the country.

Maduro family facing serious charges

Maduro’s son, Nicolás Maduro Guerra, has also been charged by US authorities in a major drug-trafficking case. In the court indictment, he is referred to as “the prince”. He was not captured and has released a video on social media, seen by CBS News, responding to his father’s arrest.

“You will see us on the streets of Venezuela,” he said. “History will tell who the traitors were.”

Court appearance expected to be procedural

Maduro and his wife are expected to make their first appearance in the US District Court in Manhattan on Monday. The hearing will be largely procedural and will mark the beginning of what could become a legal battle lasting many years.

The proceedings are scheduled to begin at 12:00 pm EST (17:00 GMT) before US District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein, a Clinton-appointed judge who has overseen the case for more than a decade.

The US federal government has been pursuing the drug-trafficking case for nearly 15 years, with Nicolás Maduro named as a defendant for the past six years.

Source: BBC