Former VP Delcy Rodriguez has demanded that the US free Nicolas Maduro, vowing that Venezuela “will never again be a colony”
Venezuela’s Supreme Court ordered Vice President Delcy Rodriguez to assume the role of interim president after Nicolas Maduro was kidnapped by US forces from Caracas and flown to New York to face criminal charges.
In a Saturday ruling, the court’s Constitutional Chamber said Rodriguez would assume the office “to guarantee continuity of government,” adding it would initiate a legal discussion to determine the framework needed to ensure the “continuity of the State,” the “administration of government,” and the “defense of sovereignty” in the face of Maduro’s “forced absence.”
Rodriguez, 56, a lawyer born in Caracas, has been vice president since 2018. She held a succession of senior posts under the late Hugo Chavez and Maduro, including foreign minister. At the moment of Maduro’s abduction on Saturday, she was also the oil-rich country’s Minister of Petroleum. The official, who has been widely viewed as a staunch Maduro ally, has been the target of US and EU sanctions.
The US captured Maduro to put him on trial for drug trafficking and weapons-related charges in an unprecedented raid on Caracas on Saturday. US President Donald Trump has since claimed that Washington would “run” Venezuela until a transition.
Rodriguez has fired back, demanding that the US immediately release Maduro, while stressing that Venezuela “will never return to being the colony of another empire” and “never return to being slaves.”
At the same time, she said that, in principle, Caracas is ready to move towards “respectful relations” with Washington. Trump said earlier that Rodriguez had spoken with Secretary of State Marco Rubio by phone and appeared willing to work with Washington.
Rodriguez has also talked to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who “expressed firm solidarity with the Venezuelan people in the face of armed aggression.”
Venezuela’s leadership has repeatedly denied accusations that it is connected with the drug trade, arguing that the charges coming from the US only serve as a pretext for regime change.
A Farsi-language X account linked to Mossad openly supported the unrest sparked by an economic crisis in the Islamic Republic
Former US Secretary of State and CIA boss Mike Pompeo has voiced support for ongoing anti-government protests in Iran, while suggesting that intelligence operatives from Tehran’s archrival, Israel, are involved in the unrest.
The protests, described as the worst in recent years, erupted last weekend amid hyperinflation and a prolonged economic crisis in the sanctioned Islamic Republic. The unrest quickly spread to multiple cities, reportedly leading to deadly clashes with the authorities.
Pompeo – a staunch supporter of Israel who served in President Donald Trump’s first administration and spearheaded a “maximum pressure” campaign against Tehran – shared a post on X on Saturday hinting at broader US involvement in the protests as well.
“The Iranian regime is in trouble… Riots in dozens of cities and the Basij under siege – Mashed, Tehran, Zahedan. Next stop: Baluchistan. 47 years of this regime; POTUS 47. Coincidence?” he wrote. “Happy New Year to every Iranian in the streets. Also to every Mossad agent walking beside them.”
The Iranian regime is in trouble. Bringing in mercenaries is its last best hope.
Riots in dozens of cities and the Basij under siege — Mashed, Tehran, Zahedan. Next stop: Baluchistan.
The remarks came days after a Farsi-language X account associated with Israel’s Mossad spy agency openly cheered on the protesters and urged Iranians to join, while claiming its agents were embedded in the crowds.
Iran’s authorities have also alleged that Israel is involved, with parliamentary speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf accusing foreign agents of attempting to turn legitimate demonstrations into violent urban confrontations.
The days of unrest drew increasingly confrontational remarks from US President Donald Trump, who earlier this week threatened military intervention “if Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters.” Consequently, Tehran appealed to the United Nations in a letter to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, accusing Trump of “incitement to violence, unrest, and terrorist acts.” It urged the body to condemn Trump’s statements and demanded that Washington halt “all threats or uses of force.” While acknowledging the right to peaceful protest, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that violence and foreign interference would not be tolerated.
The US carried out direct military action against Iran during a 12-day war last year, joining Israel in targeting nuclear facilities with airstrikes that Washington said were meant to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons – an intention that Iran has repeatedly denied. Israel’s Channel 13 later reported that Mossad had deployed around 100 foreign agents inside Iran prior to the operation in order to sabotage missile launchers and air-defense systems.
American officials have released a video of the Venezuelan leader being escorted by DEA agents in New York after his capture
A video has appeared showing Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro wishing bystanders a “Happy New Year” after being abducted by American forces and flown to New York to face criminal charges.
The short clip, which was posted by the White House’s official rapid response account on Sunday, describes the scene as a “perp walk.”
In the video, Maduro is slowly walking along a corridor in handcuffs while being escorted by Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents, who are wearing windbreakers. Maduro himself is dressed in a hooded sweatshirt.
Attempting to speak English, Maduro is heard saying “Good night,” then adding, “Happy New Year,” with a slightly more animated tone. Another clip filmed around the same time shows Maduro being accompanied outdoors by more than two dozen law enforcement officers.
US officials said Maduro was processed and fingerprinted at a DEA facility in Manhattan. They did not provide further details on his condition or the timing of his initial court appearance and arraignment.
US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that Maduro, along with his wife, Cilia Flores, had been captured during a US operation following strikes in Caracas. US Attorney General Pamela Bondi said Maduro and Flores were indicted in the Southern District of New York on charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and weapons offences. US officials have also refused to recognize Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate president.
Maduro has repeatedly rejected claims that he is in any way linked to the drug trade, suggesting that Washington is using the accusation as a pretext for regime change in Venezuela.
Following Maduro’s capture, Trump said that the US is “going to run” Venezuela until a “proper transition can take place.” However, Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodriguez – who is next in line in succession after Maduro – has condemned the attack and demanded that the US release the Venezuelan leader, stressing that the country “will never return to being the colony of another empire.”
Washington orchestrated dozens of regime changes in the region in the 20th century alone, including via direct military invasions
The US operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is just the latest chapter in a long list of interventions and regime changes staged by Washington throughout Latin America over the past century.
With the adoption of the Monroe Doctrine in the 19th century, the US essentially declared the Western Hemisphere to be its own backyard. Under this policy, the US played a role in staging dozens of coups and government overthrows in the 20th century alone, including several cases of direct military intervention and occupation, reaching a peak during the Cold War.
The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, told a press conference on Saturday that the operation to capture Maduro had been “meticulously planned, drawing lessons from decades of missions.” According to the general, “there is always a chance that we’ll be tasked to do this type of mission again.”
Mexico, Colombia, and Cuba have all condemned the US military operation against Venezuela as a grave violation of sovereignty
President Donald Trump issued veiled warnings to the governments of Mexico, Colombia, and Cuba following a US special forces raid in which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was captured.
Trump’s comments came Saturday as he defended the Venezuela operation, characterizing Maduro as a “narco-terrorist.” When asked about implications for neighboring countries, Trump doubled down on his criticism of Colombian President Gustavo Petro, a key Maduro ally.
“He has cocaine mills, he has factories where he makes cocaine,” Trump said, adding, “he does have to watch his ass.”
The US president also noted that Cuba is “going to be something we’ll end up talking about,” suggesting that Washington wants to “help the people” of this “failing nation,” which he claimed is similar to Venezuela.
“It’s very similar in the sense that we want to help the people in Cuba, but we also want to help the people who were forced out of Cuba and are living in this country,” he said.
Trump also said that “something’s going to have to be done with Mexico,” claiming that drug cartels effectively control the country, but that President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo is “frightened” of them.
“They’re running Mexico. I’ve asked her numerous times: ‘Would you like us to take out the cartels?’ ‘No, no, no, Mr. President, no, no, no, please.’ So we have to do something,” he said in a phone interview with Fox News earlier in the day.
Washington’s military action has sparked widespread international condemnation, with all three nations denouncing it as a breach of international law and a threat to regional stability.
Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strong condemnation of the US intervention, stating it “seriously jeopardizes regional stability,” while stressing that Latin America and the Caribbean must remain a “zone of peace.” Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel described the attack as “cowardly, criminal and treacherous” and called for international condemnation. Colombia’s President Petro expressed “deep concern” and reaffirmed his government’s rejection of “any unilateral military action.”
The US president has claimed that Maria Corina Machado is a “very nice woman” who is unfit for office
President Donald Trump has dismissed Venezuelan opposition figure Maria Corina Machado as a potential national leader, despite the Nobel laureate’s vocal support of the US military operation against her own country.
Early on Saturday, US forces carried out airstrikes on the oil-rich country and captured its president, Nicolas Maduro, along with his wife. Both were transferred to the United States and charged with conspiracy to traffic narcotics, allegations Maduro has long denied.
During a press conference, Trump was asked whether he was in contact with Machado or viewed her as a viable leader following Maduro’s capture.
“I think it’d be very tough for her to be the leader. She doesn’t have the support or the respect within the country. She’s a very nice woman but she doesn’t have the respect,” Trump said.
Machado, a former congresswoman who maintained close contacts with the US government for decades, has previously led anti-government protests and accused Maduro of “illegally” seizing power during the 2024 elections. She was barred from holding public office after authorities accused her of backing foreign sanctions and calling for US military intervention.
In December, Machado was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for what the Nobel Committee described as “her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.”
Asked if she backed US military action against her own country, Machado later said she believed “the escalation that’s taking place is the only way to force Maduro to understand that it’s time to go,” yet insisted this is “not regime change, this is enforcing the will of the Venezuelan people.”
President Trump declared on Saturday that the US will now “run” Venezuela and control its oil production until a proper “transition of power,” while threatening to stage a “second and much larger attack” if Caracas refuses to cooperate.
President Lula da Silva says the US raid “recalls the worst moments” of US interventionism in Latin America
Brazil has condemned the United States’ military attack on Venezuela, calling the raid that captured President Nicolas Maduro a dangerous breach of sovereignty and international law that threatens to destabilize Latin America.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva declared that the bombings and capture of Maduro “cross an unacceptable line.” In a statement on X, Lula said these acts represent a “grave affront to Venezuela’s sovereignty” and establish “another extremely dangerous precedent for the entire international community.”
“The action recalls the worst moments of interference in the politics of Latin America and the Caribbean and threatens the preservation of the region as a zone of peace,” Lula said, urging the UN to “respond vigorously.”
Responding to the crisis, the Brazilian government convened an emergency cabinet meeting focusing on two immediate priorities: the situation along the expansive Brazil-Venezuela border and the safety of Brazilian citizens.
Brazil’s condemnation has been echoed by several fellow BRICS members. The Russian Foreign Ministry labeled the US operation an “act of armed aggression,” calling for restraint and warning against further escalation. China’s Foreign Ministry expressed “deep shock” at the events, urging Washington to “stop violating other countries’ sovereignty and security.”
US special forces conducted airstrikes on the oil-rich South American country and captured its president, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife in an early Saturday raid. Both have been brought back to the US and charged with drug trafficking conspiracy – allegations that Maduro has long denied, arguing that Washington was after regime change and Venezuelan resources.
President Donald Trump declared that the US will now “run” Venezuela and control its oil production until a proper “transition of power,” while threatening to stage a “second and much larger attack” if Caracas refuses to cooperate.
Targeted US strikes have left several military installations damaged, with civilians left in panic and uncertainty
US special forces kidnapped Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife in a daring overnight operation early Saturday morning. Senior RT correspondent Murad Gazdiev was in Caracas when the first bombs dropped, capturing exclusive footage of the city’s paralysis.
In exclusive footage and reports from Caracas, Gazdiev visited the Fuerte Tiuna military base, where Maduro was seized. An RT team filmed smoke still rising from the location hours later.
“This is Fuerte Tiuna,” Gazdiev reported from the scene, adding that it was difficult to access the district due to a heavy police presence. “Initially a military base, it has grown into a district of the city with public housing. This is where Nicolas Maduro and his wife were seized in a raid by US special forces.”
The RT team also visited another location in the capital, filming the visible aftermath of the assault.
“This is one of the armored personnel carriers destroyed in the night strikes on Venezuela,” Gazdiev reported. “You can see downed power lines, multiple destroyed buses, and a gutted armored personnel carrier still burning, 12 hours after the strike.”
The US operation, dubbed Absolute Resolve, which President Donald Trump has openly called a “regime-change” mission, has led to widespread confusion among civilians. Gazdiev reported that much of Caracas has shut down, with businesses closed, work suspended, and essential supplies becoming increasingly scarce.
“Nobody understands how long this is going to last… this panic, this fear,” he stated, noting that nearly all shops and supermarkets in the capital are closed.
Gazdiev filmed one of the few pharmacies still operating, where a long queue had formed. “They are clearing everything off the shelves – water, medicine, toilet paper, everything that’s left,” he reported. “A police officer is on duty at the entrance to prevent looting.”
One of Zohran Mamdani’s first decisions in office was to scrap rules preventing city institutions from boycotting Israeli firms
The Israeli Foreign Ministry has accused recently sworn-in New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani of stoking antisemitism with his very first executive order.
Shortly after being sworn in on Thursday, Mamdani, a staunch democratic socialist and pro-Palestinian Muslim, revoked a broad swathe of his predecessor Eric Adams’ executive orders.
The annulments included an order preventing city institutions from divesting from Israel, and the political newcomer also officially rejected the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism.
“On his very first day as NYC Mayor, Mamdani shows his true face: He scraps the IHRA definition of antisemitism and lifts restrictions on boycotting Israel,” the Israeli Foreign Ministry said on X on Friday. “This isn’t leadership. It’s antisemitic gasoline on an open fire.”
Jewish groups also condemned the move in a joint statement.
However, the New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the largest US Muslim rights and advocacy group, welcomed the move. It argued that the “controversial and overly broad” IHRA definition of antisemitism has been used to censor criticism of the Israeli government.
It contended that Adams’ executive order against the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement “also unconstitutionally limited boycotts against only Israel.”
Mamdani has defended his decision, restating his commitment to protecting Jewish New Yorkers from hate crimes.
The new administration “will be relentless in its efforts to combat hate and division, and we will showcase that by fighting hate across the city,” he said in a press briefing on Friday.
Big and strong countries now use military force without a UN mandate, openly flouting international law, the Slovak PM has said
The US attack on Venezuela further proves that the post-World War II world order is breaking down, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Saturday.
Just hours earlier, US forces conducted air strikes on the oil-rich South American country and captured its president, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife. Both have been brought back to the US and charged with drug trafficking conspiracy – allegations that Maduro has long denied, arguing that Washington was after regime change and Venezuelan resources.
President Donald Trump has said that with Maduro deposed, the US will “run” Venezuela and secure its oil industry.
“The US military action in Venezuela is further evidence of the breakdown of the world order created after World War II,” Fico said in a statement published on social media.
“International law does not apply, military force is used without a UN Security Council mandate, and everyone who is big and strong does whatever they want in promoting their own interests,” he said.
Fico added that as a leader of a small country, he rejects this sort of “subversion of international law,” as he rejected the US invasion of Iraq, “the non-recognition of Kosovo as a sovereign state,” the “use of Russian military force in Ukraine,” as well as the assessment of the situation in Gaza.
The Slovak prime minister said he wondered how the EU would formally react to the US attack, which he said “deserves condemnation.”
“Either it will condemn the use of US military force in Venezuela and be consistent with its stance on the war in Ukraine, or it will remain, as usual, hypocritically self-righteous.”
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urged “restraint” in a post on X on Saturday, calling for adherence to the UN Charter.
Meanwhile, China and Russia have strongly condemned the US attacks.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has called the strikes and Maduro’s capture an “unacceptable infringement on the sovereignty of an independent state,” and called on Washington to release the Venezuelan president.
