Updated: January 05, 2026 8:28:03 PM IST
US-Venezuela tensions LIVE: DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) agents capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro from a helicopter as Maduro heads to the Daniel Patrick Manhattan United States Courthouse in New York City for his initial appearance to face US federal charges including narco-terrorism, conspiracy, drug trafficking, money laundering and others.
US-Venezuela tensions LIVE: Venezuela’s ousted leader Nicolas Maduro has been brought to New York Federal Court to appear before a judge later today, in what will be his first public appearance since being ‘captured’ following a US raid in Caracas on Saturday. On the other hand, Maduro’s successor, Delcy RodrÃguez, has indicated a willingness to cooperate with the US.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro along with his wife were captured by US forces on Saturday and brought to New York City, where they will face criminal charges. US President Donald Trump announced that the US would “run” Venezuela until there is a change of power in the South American nation.
“We will run the country until we have a safe, just and sensible transition,” he said.
In Maduro’s absence, Venezuela’s Supreme Court ordered the country’s Vice President Delcy RodrÃguez to serve as acting president. The ruling said the court would deliberate on “determining the legal framework applicable to guaranteeing the continuity of the State, the administration of the Government and the protection of sovereignty in the event of the forced absence of the President of the Republic,” news agency Reuters reported.
Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro said Monday he would “take up arms” in the face of Trump’s threats. Petro, a former guerrilla who has been the target of Trump’s insults and threats for months, said on Twitter: “I have sworn never to touch a weapon again… But for the motherland I will take up arms again.”
America is facing severe criticism regarding the operation in Venezuela
Several countries around the world, including China, Russia and others, condemned Saturday’s US military operation in Venezuela and expressed support for Venezuela.
China said it was “deeply shocked and strongly condemned the US use of force against a sovereign country and the use of force against a country’s president.”
Russia’s Foreign Ministry called the US action “an act of armed aggression against Venezuela”, which is “deeply worrying and condemnable”.
“In the current situation, the first and foremost thing is to stop the escalation and focus on finding a way out of the situation through negotiations,” Russia’s Foreign Ministry said.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said, “The bombardment of Venezuelan territory and the occupation of its president cross an unacceptable line. These acts are a serious affront to Venezuelan sovereignty and another extremely dangerous precedent for the entire international community.”
How did India react?
Reacting to the US attacks on Venezuela, India expressed “deep concern” over the actions and called on all parties to resolve issues peacefully through dialogue to ensure stability in the region.
“India reaffirms its support for the well-being and security of the Venezuelan people. We call on all concerned parties to peacefully address the issues through dialogue, ensuring peace and stability of the region,” India’s Ministry of External Affairs statement said.
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Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro along with his wife were captured by US forces on Saturday and brought to New York City, where they will face criminal charges. US President Donald Trump announced that the US would “run” Venezuela until there is a change of power in the South American nation.
“We will run the country until we have a safe, just and sensible transition,” he said.
In Maduro’s absence, Venezuela’s Supreme Court ordered the country’s Vice President Delcy RodrÃguez to serve as acting president. The ruling said the court would deliberate on “determining the legal framework applicable to guaranteeing the continuity of the State, the administration of the Government and the protection of sovereignty in the event of the forced absence of the President of the Republic,” news agency Reuters reported.
Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro said Monday he would “take up arms” in the face of Trump’s threats. Petro, a former guerrilla who has been the target of Trump’s insults and threats for months, said on Twitter: “I have sworn never to touch a weapon again… But for the motherland I will take up arms again.”
America is facing severe criticism regarding the operation in Venezuela
Several countries around the world, including China, Russia and others, condemned Saturday’s US military operation in Venezuela and expressed support for Venezuela.
China said it was “deeply shocked and strongly condemned the US use of force against a sovereign country and the use of force against a country’s president.”
Russia’s Foreign Ministry called the US action “an act of armed aggression against Venezuela”, which is “deeply worrying and condemnable”.
“In the current situation, the first and foremost thing is to stop the escalation and focus on finding a way out of the situation through negotiations,” Russia’s Foreign Ministry said.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said, “The bombardment of Venezuelan territory and the occupation of its president cross an unacceptable line. These acts are a serious affront to Venezuelan sovereignty and another extremely dangerous precedent for the entire international community.”
How did India react?
Reacting to the US attacks on Venezuela, India expressed “deep concern” over the actions and called on all parties to resolve issues peacefully through dialogue to ensure stability in the region.
“India reaffirms its support for the well-being and security of the Venezuelan people. We call on all concerned parties to peacefully address the issues through dialogue, ensuring peace and stability of the region,” India’s Ministry of External Affairs statement said.
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January 05, 2026 8:23:46 pm First
US-Venezuela tensions live: Nicolas Maduro taken to court picture out
January 05, 2026 8:13:05 pm First
US-Venezuela tensions live: Mexican president responds to Donald Trump
Responding to US President Donald Trump’s accusations that Mexico has not done enough to combat drug trafficking gangs, Sheinbaum stressed cooperation between Washington and Mexico City.
According to CNN, he said, “Mexico cooperates with the United States, including for humanitarian reasons, to prevent fentanyl and other drugs from reaching its population, especially young people. We do not want fentanyl or any drug reaching any young person – whether in the United States, in Mexico, or anywhere else in the world.”
January 05, 2026 8:10:53 pm First
US-Venezuela tensions live: Mexican President reiterates his stance
US-Venezuela tensions LIVE: Mexican President Gloria Sheinbaum has again spoken out against US intervention in Venezuela and the seizure of its President Nicolas Maduro.
“Mexico’s position on any type of intervention is firm, clear and historic,” Sheinbaum said at a news conference in Mexico City on Monday.
“Mexico affirms a principle that is neither new nor open to ambiguity: We unequivocally reject interference in the internal affairs of other countries. The history of Latin America is clear and compelling. Intervention has never brought democracy,” Sheinbaum said.
“Only the people can create their own future, chart their own course, exercise sovereignty over their natural resources and freely define their form of government,” he said.
January 05, 2026 8:07:36 pm First
US-Venezuela tensions live: Diplomatic passport fees
Nicolas Maduro is accused of selling Venezuelan diplomatic passports to known drug traffickers and facilitating flights under diplomatic cover to bring drug proceeds from Mexico back to Venezuela.
January 05, 2026 8:06:46 pm First
US-Venezuela tensions live: Indictment accuses Nicolas Maduro of ‘logistical support’ for drug cartels
The indictment alleged that Maduro and his associates “provided law enforcement cover and logistical support” to major drug trafficking groups such as the Sinaloa Cartel and the Tren de Aragua gang. The DOJ said these criminal organizations sent profits to high-ranking officials who in turn protected them.
January 05, 2026 8:04:53 pm First
US-Venezuela tensions live: charges against Nicolas Maduro
US-Venezuela tensions live: The US Justice Department indictment alleges that Nicolás Maduro and other Venezuelan leaders, for more than 25 years, “abused their positions of public trust and corrupted once-legitimate institutions to import tons of cocaine into the United States.”
January 05, 2026 7:57:58 pm First
US-Venezuela tensions live: Nicolas Maduro to appear for arraignment in New York later today
US-Venezuela tensions live: Nicolas Maduro to appear before a judge for arraignment at a New York courthouse later today.
