Overview
- Nicolás Maduro appeared in a New York court and rejected narcotics charges after being taken from Caracas in a U.S. military operation reported on January 3.
- A U.N. Security Council meeting requested by Colombia examined the action, with China and Russia supporting the session and António Guterres cautioning it could set a dangerous precedent.
- China’s Wang Yi criticized the United States for acting like a global policeman and judge, arguing that state sovereignty and international law must be respected.
- Venezuelan opposition figure and Nobel laureate María Corina Machado praised the move, said she plans to return home, and declared she would dedicate her Nobel Prize to President Trump even as Trump signaled limited support for her taking power.
- Analyst Ian Bremmer called the raid a short‑term political gain for Trump that risks long‑term damage to U.S. credibility and alliances, while unverified reports circulate about insider betrayal and failed allied defenses protecting Maduro.