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8h ago

After U.S. Raid, Maduro Held in New York as Washington Signals Leverage Over Venezuela’s Oil

Fresh Chinese denunciations alongside new polling in the U.S. highlight rising diplomatic and political costs.

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Captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is escorted, as he heads towards the Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse in Manhattan for an initial appearance to face U.S. federal charges including narco-terrorism, conspiracy, drug trafficking, money laundering and others, at Downtown Manhattan Heliport, in New York City. REUTERS/Adam Gray/File Photo
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TOPSHOT - US President Donald Trump, alongside (L/R) Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, speaks to the press following US military actions in Venezuela, at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, on January 3, 2026. President Trump said Saturday that US forces had captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro after launching a "large scale strike" on the South American country.

Overview

  • Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores remain in U.S. custody after being flown from Caracas and have appeared in federal court on narcotics-related charges.
  • President Trump said the United States would temporarily “run” Venezuela and indicated U.S. oil companies would move to rebuild production, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio downplayed any formal occupation.
  • Beijing condemned the operation as an illegal use of force and emphasized Venezuela’s control over its resources, as analysts point to China’s significant oil exposure in the country.
  • Control in Caracas is contested, with the Venezuelan Supreme Court naming Vice President Delcy Rodríguez acting president and senior military figures backing her position.
  • New surveys report Republicans divided over the raid and broad public skepticism about U.S. motives, while lawmakers pursue War Powers constraints and protests abroad, including in Dublin, reflect international pushback.