US strikes Venezuela highlights: Delcy Rodriguez sworn in as Venezuela’s interim president; takes oath after Maduro’s arrest

Delcy Rodriguez sworn in as Venezuela’s interim president; takes oath after Maduro’s arrest

Venezuela’s parliament on Monday swore in Delcy Rodriguez as interim president, two days after US forces seized her predecessor Nicolas Maduro to face trial in New York, AFP reported.

Rodriguez, who has indicated she will cooperate with Washington, took the oath of office during a ceremony at the National Assembly. Addressing lawmakers, she said she was assuming the role “in the name of all Venezuelans”.

Venezuela lawmakers slam Maduro capture, back interim leader

Venezuela's parliament on Monday forcibly denounced the capture of leftist leader Nicolas Maduro while vowing support for his stand-in, due to be sworn in less than three days after a US military attack that shocked Caracas.
Members of the National Assembly offered their full backing to interim leader Delcy Rodriguez -- who had been Maduro's vice president -- and reelected her brother Jorge Rodriguez as parliament head.

As Monday's session opened, lawmakers chanted "Let's go Nico!" -- a slogan of Maduro's presidential campaign ahead of 2024 elections that were widely denounced by the opposition and dozens of global capitals, including Washington, as fraudulent.

On President Donald Trump's orders, US military forces early Saturday launched strikes on the Venezuelan capital and seized Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, flying them to New York to stand trial on drug trafficking charges.

"The president of the United States, Mr Trump, claims to be the prosecutor, the judge, and the policeman of the world," senior lawmaker Fernando Soto Rojas said in an address to colleagues.

"We say: you will not succeed. And we will ultimately deploy all our solidarity so that our legitimate president, Nicolas Maduro, returns victorious to Miraflores," the presidential palace, he added.

- 'In good hands' -

Venezuela's Supreme Court on Saturday ordered Delcy Rodriguez to assume the presidency "in an acting capacity," and on Sunday the military also threw its support behind her.

She is to be sworn in as interim president before parliament later Monday.

With Jorge Rodriguez's reelection, the influential siblings are in control of Venezuela's executive and legislative branches.

Jorge Rodriguez vowed in front of his lawmaker colleagues Monday to pursue "all procedures, all platforms, and all avenues to bring back Nicolas Maduro Moros, my brother, my president."

Maduro's lawmaker son Nicolas Maduro Guerra also offered his support for the acting president.

"Count on me, count on my family," Maduro Guerra, known as "Nicolasito," told Rodriguez during an address to parliament, adding the country was "in good hands" until his parents' "return."

New members of Venezuela's single-chamber parliament were chosen last May in elections boycotted by much of the opposition, leaving 256 of the 286 seats in the hands of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) and its allies.

Maduro Guerra said Monday Venezuela "asks for neither privileges nor concessions; it demands respect... We want international relations with everyone, based on equality, mutual respect, and cooperation, without threats and without interference."

Delcy Rodriguez, who on Saturday insisted Maduro remains the country's "only" president, later extended an offer of cooperation to Washington, who has said it would work with Venezuela's leaders if they do what it wants.

Trump meanwhile warned Rodriguez could face a fate worse than Maduro if she failed to heed US demands on policy reforms and oil access.

Venezuelan government seeks to show it is operating free from US control

The Venezuelan government on Monday sought to show its people and the world that the country is being run independently and not controlled by the United States following its stunning weekend arrest of Nicolás Maduro, the authoritarian leader who had ruled for almost 13 years.
Lawmakers aligned with the ruling party, including Maduro's son, gathered in the capital, Caracas, to follow through with a scheduled swearing-in ceremony of the National Assembly for a term that will last until 2031. They reelected their longtime speaker — the brother of the newly named interim president, Delcy Rodríguez — and gave speeches focused on condemning Maduro's capture Saturday by U.S. forces.

“If we normalize the kidnapping of a head of state, no country is safe. Today, it’s Venezuela. Tomorrow, it could be any nation that refuses to submit," Maduro's son, Nicolás Maduro Guerra, said at the legislative palace in his first public appearance since Saturday. "This is not a regional problem. It is a direct threat to global political stability."

Maduro Guerra, also known as “Nicolasito,” demanded that his father and stepmother, Cilia Flores, be returned to the South American country and called on international support. Maduro Guerra, the deposed leader's only son, also denounced being named as a co-conspirator in the federal indictment charging his father and Flores.

While Venezuelan lawmakers met, Maduro made his first court appearance in a U.S. courtroom on the narco-terrorism charges the Trump administration used to justify capturing him and taking him to New York. Maduro declared himself “innocent” and a “decent man” as he pleaded not guilty to federal drug-trafficking charges.

The U.S. seized Maduro and Flores in a military operation Saturday, capturing them in their home on a military base. President Donald Trump said the U.S. would “run” Venezuela temporarily, but Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Sunday that it would not govern the country day-to-day other than enforcing an existing ” oil quarantine.”

Rubio said the U.S. was using pressure on Venezuela's oil industry as a way to push for policy changes. "We expect to see that there will be changes, not just in the way the oil industry is run for the benefit of the people, but also so that they stop the drug trafficking,” Rubio said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”

On Sunday, Rodríguez said Venezuela is seeking “respectful relations” with the U.S., a shift from a more defiant tone she struck in the immediate aftermath of Maduro’s capture.

“We invite the US government to collaborate with us on an agenda of cooperation oriented towards shared development within the framework of international law to strengthen lasting community coexistence,” Rodríguez said in a statement. Her conciliatory message came after Trump threatened that she could “pay a very big price” if she did not fall in line with U.S. demands.

Before taking the oath of office, Venezuelan lawmaker Grecia Colmenares said she would “take every giant step to bring back (to Venezuela) the bravest of the brave, Nicolás Maduro Moreno, and our first lady, Cilia Flores.”

“I swear by the shared destiny we deserve,” she said.

A State Department official said Monday that the Trump administration is making preliminary plans to reopen the U.S. embassy in Venezuela.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal administration deliberations, said early preparations “to allow for a reopening” of the embassy in Caracas had begun in the event Trump decides to return American diplomats to the country.

Venezuelan interim president to be sworn in Monday: parliament head

'I was kidnapped': Maduro's next court appearance on March 17

Nicolas Maduro told the judge “I was kidnapped” during his arraignment in US court.

The next court appearance for both Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores scheduled for March 17.

Venezuelan interim president's brother re-elected as parliament head

Venezuela’s parliament on Monday re-elected as its head Jorge Rodriguez, brother of interim president Delcy Rodriguez, in the aftermath of the shock ouster of Nicolas Maduro by US forces.

The Rodriguez siblings are now in control of Venezuela's executive and legislative branches, and Delcy Rodriguez has won the full support of the military and of Maduro's lawmaker son Nicolas Maduro Guerra.

Lawmakers on Monday fiercely denounced the capture of Maduro, who will stand trial on drug trafficking charges in New York with his wife, Cilia Flores. (AP)

'I'm still Venezuela's president': Nicolas Maduro

Maduro declared himself “innocent” and a “decent man” as he pleaded not guilty to federal drug trafficking charges in the courtroom.

“I’m innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man, the president of my country," Maduro told Judge Alvin Hellerstein.

The deposed strongman,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. (AP)

'I am not guilty': Maduro tells court

Speaking through a translator, Maduro said in Spanish, "I was captured at home in Caracas, Venezuela. I am innocent, I am not guilty. I am a decent man."

Maduro makes first appearance in US court

Deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is making his first appearance Monday in an American courtroom on the narco-terrorism charges the Trump administration used to justify capturing him and bringing him to New York.

Maduro and his wife are appearing before a judge 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 U.S.

His lawyers are expected to contest the legality of his arrest, arguing that he is immune from prosecution as a sovereign head of a foreign state. But the U.S. doesn’t recognize him as Venezuela’s legitimate leader.

Maduro, along with his wife, son, and three others, is accused of working with drug cartels to facilitate the shipment of thousands of tons of cocaine into the U.S. They could face life in prison if convicted. (AP)

Pro- and anti-Maduro protesters gather outside New York court

Venezuela issues decree to arrest anyone involved in supporting US attack

Venezuela issues an emergency decree ordering police to find and arrest anyone involved in supporting America's January 3 attack in Caracas, reports Reuters.

'Political independence of states must be respected': UN chief Guterres

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called for respect for the political independence of states after the United States seized Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and said it was in charge of the country.

Guterres urges "respect for the principles of sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity of states," according to remarks read on his behalf by Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo during a UN Security Council meeting on Venezuela.

"I am deeply concerned about the possible intensification (of) instability in the country, the potential impact on the region, and the precedent it may set for how relations between and among states are conducted," the UN chief's remarks said.

Venezuela called for the meeting and Colombia relayed the request to the Security Council, of which it has been a member since January 1.

After months of threats and pressure tactics, US forces on Saturday bombed Venezuela and toppled Maduro in a massive operation that brought an end to 12 years of increasingly authoritarian rule by the left-wing leader, who had a $50 million US bounty on his head. (AFP)

Threatened by Trump, Colombian president says 'ready to take up arms'

Colombian President Gustavo Petro said Monday he was ready to "take up arms" in the face of threats from US counterpart Donald Trump, who over the weekend seized the leader of neighbouring Venezuela in a military strike.

Petro, a former guerrilla who for months been the target of insults and threats from Trump, said on X: "I swore not to touch a weapon again... but for the homeland I will take up arms again."

Trump said over the weekend that Petro should "watch his a**" and described Colombia's first-ever leftist leader as "a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States." (AFP)

Maduro arrives for first US court appearance

Deposed Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro arrived at a New York court on Monday, just days after being seized in Caracas in a shock US military operation that paved the path for Washington's plans to control the oil-rich country.

Maduro, 63, faces narcotrafficking charges along with his wife, Cilia Flores. The pair were forcibly taken out of Caracas in a US assault Saturday, in which commandos swooped in on helicopters, backed by fighter jets and naval forces, to capture them.

On Monday morning, Maduro was escorted by heavily armed law enforcement officers to a courthouse in New York, having been transported by helicopter and armored car. (AFP)

Maduro being taken to New York court ahead of hearing

UNSC to discuss Venezuela situation

UNSC to hold emergency meeting at 8:30 pm IST on the situation in the Latin American nation following the United States' removal and capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

'With immediate effect': Switzerland to freeze Maduro's assets

The Swiss government said Monday it had decided to freeze any assets held in Switzerland by deposed Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro or his associates "with immediate effect".

"In doing so, the Federal Council (government) aims to prevent an outflow of assets," it said in a statement, stressing that "should future legal proceedings reveal that the funds were illicitly acquired, Switzerland will endeavour to ensure that they benefit the Venezuelan people." Read here

EU calls for inclusion of Maria Machado in transition process

The EU on Monday said any political transition in Venezuela must include opposition leaders Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, despite US President Donald Trump dismissing them playing a role.

"The next steps are about dialogue towards a democratic transition, which must include Edmundo Gonzalez and Maria Corina Machado," EU spokeswoman Anitta Hipper said.

France backs Greenland after Trump issues fresh 'threats' following Venezuela operation

France on Monday expressed its "solidarity" with Denmark following US President Donald Trump's fresh threats to take over the autonomous Danish territory of Greenland.

"Borders cannot be changed by force," French foreign ministry spokesman Pascal Confavreux told television channel TF1.

"Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders and the Danes, and it is up to them to decide what to do with it," he said.

On Sunday, Trump doubled down on his claim that Greenland should become part of the United States, despite calls by Denmark's prime minister to stop "threatening" the territory. (AFP)

'Nothing to be proud of': Iran demands US release Nicolas Maduro, his wife

Iran called on Monday for the release of Nicolás Maduro, the ousted president of Tehran's close ally Venezuela who was seized in a US military operation and taken to New York to stand trial.

"The president of a country and his wife were abducted. It's nothing to be proud of; it's an illegal act," foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei said at a weekly press conference. "As the Venezuelan people have emphasised, their president must be released." (AFP)

'Invite US Govt to collaborate with us,' says Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez

Delcy Rodriguez the Acting President of Venezuela, who will be taking over after the deposition of Nicolas Maduro, has sent out a message extending an invitation to the US government to work together on a cooperation agenda.

In a post on Instagram, she said, "A message from Venezuela to the world, and to the United States: Venezuela reaffirms its commitment to peace and peaceful coexistence. Our country aspires to live without external threats, in an environment of respect and international cooperation. We believe that global peace is built by first guaranteeing peace within each nation. We prioritise moving towards balanced and respectful international relations between the United States and Venezuela, and between Venezuela and other countries in the region, premised on sovereign equality and non-interference. These principles guide our diplomacy with the rest of the world."

Despite the US' indication that Rodriguez would be their choice of leader in a post Maduro scenarion, Rodriguez indicated some loyalty to Maduro saying that her message of peace and dialogue had also been his message.

"We invite the US government to collaborate with us on an agenda of cooperation oriented towards shared development within the framework of international law to strengthen lasting community coexistence. President Donald Trump, our peoples and our region deserve peace and dialogue, not war. This has always been President Nicolas Maduro's message, and it is the message of all of Venezuela right now. This is the Venezuela I believe in and have dedicated my life to. I dream of a Venezuela where all good Venezuelans can come together. Venezuela has the right to peace, development, sovereignty and a future," she said.

After Maduro, who's next? Trump spurs speculation about his plans for Greenland, Cuba and Colombia

A day after the audacious US military operation in Venezuela, President Donald Trump on Sunday renewed his calls for an American takeover of the Danish territory of Greenland for the sake of US security interests and threatened military action on Colombia for facilitating the global sale of cocaine, while his top diplomat declared the communist government in Cuba is “in a lot of trouble.”

The comments from Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio after the ouster of Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro underscore that the US administration is serious about taking a more expansive role in the Western Hemisphere.

With thinly veiled threats, Trump is rattling hemispheric friends and foes alike, spurring a pointed question around the globe: Who's next?

“It’s so strategic right now. Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place," Trump told reporters as he flew back to Washington from his home in Florida. "We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it.”

Asked during an interview with The Atlantic earlier on Sunday what the U.S.-military action in Venezuela could portend for Greenland, Trump replied: “They are going to have to view it themselves. I really don’t know.”

Oil prices fall after US ousts Venezuela's Maduro

Oil prices fell on Monday after a US military operation seized Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, whose country has the world's biggest proven crude reserves.
Increased volumes of Venezuelan oil entering the market would add to oversupply concerns and put further pressure on oil prices, which have fallen in recent months.

In morning trade in Asia, Brent Crude was down 0.21 percent at $60.62 per barrel while West Texas Intermediate was off 0.35 percent at $57.12, both off earlier lows.

US forces attacked Caracas in the early hours of Saturday, bombing military targets and spiriting away Maduro and his wife to face federal narcotrafficking charges in New York.

US President Donald Trump has said that the United States will now "run" Venezuela and send US companies to fix its badly dilapidated oil infrastructure.

After years of under-investment and sanctions, Venezuela currently pumps around one million barrels per day, down from around 3.5 mb/d in 1999.

But analysts say that alongside other major questions about Venezuela's future, substantially lifting its oil production will not be easy or quick.

"Any recovery in production would require substantial investment given the crumbling infrastructure resulting from years of mismanagement and underinvestment," UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo told AFP.

Investing today also holds little appeal: oil prices are weighed down by a supply glut and fell in 2025 despite significant growth headwinds like Trump's tariff war and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Asia stocks up, oil recovers after Venezuela ouster

Asian stocks and gold rose while oil prices recovered from earlier lows on Monday, as investors weighed the impact of the US ouster of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
US forces attacked Caracas early Saturday, bombing military targets and spiriting away Maduro and his wife to face federal narcotrafficking charges in New York.

Venezuela has the world's largest proven oil reserves, and more Venezuelan crude in the market could exacerbate oversupply concerns and add to recent pressure on prices.

Having initially been in negative territory in early trade in Asia, Brent was 0.28 percent up at $60.92 per barrel while West Texas Intermediate was 0.16 percent higher at $57.41.

US President Donald Trump has said that the United States will now "run" Venezuela and send US companies to fix its badly dilapidated oil infrastructure.

But analysts say that alongside other major questions about the South American nation's future, substantially lifting its oil production will not be easy, quick or cheap.

After years of under-investment and sanctions, Venezuela currently pumps around one million barrels per day, down from around 3.5 mb/d in 1999.

"Any recovery in production would require substantial investment given the crumbling infrastructure resulting from years of mismanagement and underinvestment," UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo told AFP.

Investing today also holds little appeal: oil prices are weighed down by a supply glut and fell in 2025 despite significant growth headwinds like Trump's tariff war and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Asian stocks meanwhile saw strong early gains, carrying on from last year on the back of strong appetite for stocks related to artificial intelligence.

Tokyo's Nikkei was up 2.36 percent at 51,527.09 points, with tech investor SoftBank up around four percent and chip equipment maker Tokyo Electron five percent.

South Korea's Kospi was 2.53 percent higher at 4,418.67 points, with SK Hynix up more than three percent and Samsung Electronics soaring 4.6 percent.

Safe-haven investment gold was up 1.28 percent at $4,388 per ounce.

"Valuations remain around levels exceeded only by the Dot.com bubble, while allocation to equities are at elevated levels at the same time allocation to cash is on the low side," said Kyle Rodda at Capital.com.

"Most simply put, the markets probably need to see more evidence of resilient US growth, continued disinflation and therefore US rate cuts, strong corporate earnings, and the pay-offs from artificial intelligence to keep on rising," Rodda said in a note.

Trump says 'we're in charge' in Venezuela

President Donald Trump insisted Sunday the United States is "in charge" of Venezuela after the seizure of Nicolas Maduro, but was also dealing with the new interim leadership in Caracas.

"We're dealing with the people who just got sworn in. Don't ask me who’s in charge because I'll give you an answer and it'll be very controversial," Trump told reporters on Air Force One when asked if he had spoken to interim leader Delcy Rodriguez.

Pressed on what he meant, Trump said: "It means we're in charge."

'If they don't behave': Is second strike on Venezuela off the table? Trump's fresh warning

US President Donald Trump late Sunday issued another stern warning to Venezuela that US will conduct another strike "if they don't behave."

This comes after strong military action by America on Venezuela, toppling country's government with capturing its President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores on Saturday, hours after a dramatic US military operation in Carcas.

Maduro and his wife are being held at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Centre and will face federal charges and trial on grounds of drug trafficking and working with cartels.

The pair have been charged in the Southern District of New York with conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism, cocaine importation, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess those weapons.

Maduro has repeatedly rejected allegations that he is a cartel leader, accusing the US of using its “war on drugs” as a pretext to target Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, estimated at about 303 billion barrels, nearly one-fifth of the world’s total, according to the US Energy Information Administration.

Trump says 'many' Cubans died in Venezuela attack

President Donald Trump said Saturday that many Cubans died as US forces attacked Venezuela and captured President Nicolas Maduro.
The two Latin American countries are close allies, sharing communist ideology and together weathering US economic sanctions.

For decades, Cuba was heavily dependent on Caracas for economic support and fuel.

In the run-up to the US attack early Saturday, as Washington amassed forces in the Caribbean, the Venezuelan leader was described in US media reports as heavily reliant on advisers and bodyguards from Cuba.

Neither Venezuela nor the United States has released a death toll from the pre-dawn attack that nabbed Maduro, although Trump said no Americans were killed.

In an interview with The New York Post, granted after he gave a press conference to talk about the attack, Trump said, "You know, many Cubans lost their lives last night. Did you know that?"

He added: "Many Cubans lost their lives. They were protecting Maduro. That was not a good move."

Trump did not elaborate on the number of people killed.

"Cuba was always very reliant on Venezuela. That's where they got their money, and they protected Venezuela, but that didn't work out too well in this case," Trump told the Post.

At the press conference with Trump, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Havana.

"If I lived in Havana and I was in the government, I'd be concerned at least a little bit," Rubio said.

But Trump told the Post he was not considering military action against Cuba, which has its own economic crisis.

"No, Cuba is going to fall of its own volition. Cuba is doing very poorly," Trump said.

32 Cubans killed in US raid in Venezuela, says Havana; Trump confirms ‘a lot of Cubans’ died

Cuba on Monday said that 32 of its nationals were killed during a US operation in Venezuela that led to the seizure of President Nicolás Maduro, according to an AFP report from Havana. The Cuban government blamed Washington for the deaths, saying those killed were part of the operation’s fallout.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump acknowledged the fatalities, telling reporters aboard Air Force One that “a lot of Cubans were killed yesterday.” He added that there was “a lot of death on the other side, unfortunately,” referring to the US action against Maduro, AFP reported.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a military quarantine of Venezuela and its oil industry would remain in place. The death toll from the raid to seize Nicolás Maduro rose to 80.

IAS officer Rajendrakumar Patel, who ED arrested on January 2 under the Provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), has been placed under suspension: Gujarat Govt

US strikes Venezuela Live: Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay and Spain oppose any external attempt to ‘control’ Venezuela

US strikes Venezuela Live: Venezuela military recognises Vice President Delcy Rodriguez as acting president

Venezuela’s military has recognised Delcy Rodríguez, the deputy to ousted President Nicolás Maduro, as the country’s acting leader following the removal of the former head of state by US forces to face trial.

Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino announced the decision in a statement, backing a Supreme Court ruling that appointed Rodríguez as acting president for a 90-day period.

US strikes Venezuela Live: JD Vance pushes back on Venezuela critics; targets cocaine profits and narco-terrorism

US strikes Venezuela Live: Spanish protestors condemn ‘imperialist aggression’ after US operation in Venezuela

Around 1,000 people gathered outside the US embassy in Madrid on Sunday to protest what they described as “imperialist aggression” following a US military operation in which special forces seized Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Demonstrators displayed a range of banners, including one depicting US President Donald Trump greedily consuming a can of oil painted in the colours of the Venezuelan flag. Other placards read “Trump aggressor” and “No to imperialist aggression against Venezuela.”

Many protesters waved flags of Spain’s far-left Podemos party and the Communist Party, while others held Venezuelan national colours in solidarity.

US strikes Venezuela Live: US secretary of war Hegseth contrasts Venezuela mission with 2003 Iraq war; calls it 'exact opposite'

US secretary of war Pete Hegseth said Washington’s midnight military operation in Venezuela was the “exact opposite” of the 2003 Iraq invasion and would not result in prolonged conflict or American casualties.

“The operation in Venezuela marked a complete departure from past military engagements, focusing on achieving objectives without putting American troops at risk,” he said.

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US strikes Venezuela Live: US ready to engage Venezuela if leaders make ‘right decision,’ says secretary of state Marco Rubio

US secretary of state Marco Rubio said US is willing to work with Venezuela’s remaining leadership after a surprise US operation removed President Nicolás Maduro, but said any cooperation will depend on their next steps.

Rubio said Washington would assess leaders by their actions. “We're going to judge everything by what they do, and we're going to see what they do,” he told CBS News’ Face the Nation.

He warned that consequences remain an option if the “right decision” is not made.

“I do know this: that if they don't make the right decision, that the United States will retain multiple levers of leverage,” Rubio said.

US strikes Venezuela Live: What is Chavismo, the political movement behind Nicolas Maduro’s leadership?

Nicolas Maduro became Venezuela’s president in 2013 following the death of Hugo Chávez, the dominant left-wing figure who ruled the country for more than a decade.

Chávez founded the Chavismo movement, portraying himself as a champion of “21st-century socialism.” He strongly criticized capitalism and the United States, while channeling Venezuela’s oil wealth into expansive social programs for the poor. His tenure, however, was also marked by repression of political rivals and independent media.

A longtime ally of Chávez, Maduro took over leadership of the Chavismo movement after Chávez’s death.

Chavismo is a leftist ideology that emphasizes redistributing wealth to marginalized communities and safeguarding Venezuela’s sovereignty from what it views as imperialist influence. The Washington-based Borgen Project notes that the movement also promotes nationalization of industries and a firm rejection of neoliberal economic policies.

While the ideology may sound effective in theory, the Borgen Project argues that many Venezuelans became dissatisfied with governance under Maduro. Rather than addressing public concerns, it says, Maduro chose to suppress dissent through increasingly authoritarian measures.

US strikes Venezuela Live: Pope Leo XIV calls for 'guaranteeing the sovereignty of the country'

Pope Leo XIV emphasised that the welfare of the Venezuelan people must come first following the toppling of President Nicolas Maduro in a US operation. He also called for "guaranteeing the sovereignty of the country."

After his Angelus prayer in St Peter’s Square, the pope said, "The welfare of the beloved Venezuelan people must prevail over all other considerations and lead to overcoming violence and embarking on paths of justice and peace, guaranteeing the sovereignty of the country..."

US strikes Venezuela Live: 'Powerful countries do not have the right to...' Sri Lanka’s ruling JVP condemns US Aaction in Venezuela

Sri Lanka’s ruling Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) condemned what it described as US military aggression against Venezuela, denouncing the alleged abduction of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife.

In an official statement cited by the Daily Mirror, the JVP said Venezuela, as an independent and sovereign nation, has the right to determine its political future without external interference. It stressed that the choice of leadership must rest solely with the Venezuelan people, as it would in any free country.

"Powerful countries do not have the right to violate this principle," the statement said.

"Modern society and governance should be civilised. Democracy, human rights and sovereignty of states are universally accepted principles. Military aggressions and invasions against sovereign states in violation of these principles cannot be justified," the statement added.

Reiterating its opposition to the reported US action, the JVP said, "In that line, we believe that nobody will approve of the forceful military aggression against Venezuela by the United States of America."

US strikes Venezuela Live: North Korea denounces US cature of Maduro; calls It ‘serious encroachment of sovereignty’

North Korea denounced the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro as a "serious encroachment of sovereignty" by the US.

Pyongyang's foreign ministry "strongly denounces the US hegemony-seeking act committed in Venezuela", said a ministry spokesperson in a statement carried by the official KCNA, as cited by AFP

"The incident is another example that clearly confirms once again the rogue and brutal nature of the US," they added.

US strikes Venezuela Live: Netanyahu congratulates Trump for attack on Venezuela; lauds soldiers’ bravery

US strikes Venezuela Live: 'Waited for 26 years'—Mother-son duo crash far-left protests in defense of Nicolás Maduro

US strikes Venezuela: 'India reaffirms its support to well-being and safety of people of Venezuela': MEA

US strikes Venezuela: China demands US immediately release Venezuela’s Maduro

China’s foreign ministry has called on the United States to immediately release Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, urging Washington to resolve the situation in Venezuela through dialogue and negotiation. In a statement posted on its website, the ministry said the US must also ensure the personal safety of Maduro and his wife, adding that their removal from the country violated international law and established norms.

US strikes Venezuela Live: ‘Trump admin will always defend American citizens’: White House statement after strike

US strikes Venezuela Live: Venezuela SC names Delcy Rodriguez acting president after Maduro's removal

Venezuela’s Supreme Court has ordered Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to take over as acting president after President Nicolás Maduro was removed by the United States, a development that has sharply escalated the country’s political crisis. The ruling, announced late on Saturday local time, said Maduro is in a “material and temporary impossibility to exercise his functions,” according to CNN.

US Strikes Venezuela Live: Trump says US to be strongly involved in Venezuela's oil industry after Maduro's capture

Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Trump said major US energy firms would invest billions of dollars to repair Venezuela’s damaged oil infrastructure and restart production.“We’re going to have our very large United States oil companies, the biggest anywhere in the world, go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure, the oil infrastructure, and start making money for the country,” he said.

Venezuela explosions Live: First video shows Nicolás Maduro in US custody; escorted off plane in handcuffs

US Strikes Venezuela Live: Donald Trump says US is ‘going to run’ Venezuela until transition of power

US strikes Venezuela: Hundreds of flights cancelled disrupting Caribbean travel

Caribbean air travel erupted into chaos over the weekend after US military captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, prompting sweeping airspace restrictions across the region.According to FlightRadar24, no commercial aircraft were flying over Venezuelan airspace on Saturday. The US Federal Aviation Administration also imposed restrictions that forced major airlines to cancel hundreds of flights across the eastern Caribbean, disrupting travel during an already busy holiday period. Airlines warned passengers that delays and cancellations could continue for several days.