Overview
- In a communiqué declaring “the hour of freedom,” María Corina Machado urged immediate recognition of Edmundo González Urrutia as Venezuela’s legitimate president and as commander in chief of the armed forces.
- Machado told Venezuelans inside the country to stay vigilant for instructions through official channels and asked the diaspora to mobilize foreign governments and citizens to support a transition.
- She said the opposition is ready to govern with priorities that include freeing political prisoners, restoring democratic institutions and beginning national reconstruction to bring migrants home.
- President Donald Trump announced a large-scale U.S. operation that resulted in the capture and extraction of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, heightening political and military tension.
- U.S. authorities indicated Maduro will face charges in the Southern District of New York, including narcoterrorism, cocaine import conspiracy and firearms offenses.