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4w ago

EU and Council of Europe Urge Legal Restraint After U.S. Operation as Maduro Held in New York

Brussels calls for a Venezuelan-led transition following Washington’s reported capture of Nicolás Maduro.

People hold photographs of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez and President Nicolas Maduro outside Vice-presidency building, after U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. has struck Venezuela and captured its President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas, Venezuela, January 3, 2026. REUTERS/Gaby Oraa
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Overview

  • Reuters reports that Nicolás Maduro is in a New York detention center awaiting a Monday court appearance on U.S. drug charges stemming from 2020 indictments, which he has denied.
  • An EU statement backed by 26 of 27 member states, with Hungary not signing, stresses that restoring democracy must reflect the will of Venezuelans.
  • The EU calls for calm and restraint and says combating organized crime must proceed in full respect of international law, territorial integrity, and sovereignty.
  • Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset warns that the use of force is being normalized and law weaponized, urging a peaceful, democratic process led by Venezuelans.
  • President Trump announced a large-scale strike in Venezuela, said Maduro and his wife were captured and flown out, and named Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to oversee interim governance.