Overview
- Russia’s ambassador to Venezuela said Maduro’s attorneys report he does not complain about his confinement and vows to "stand to the end."
- U.S. President Donald Trump said a January 3 operation in Caracas captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and transported them to New York.
- Maduro and Flores appeared in the Southern District of New York on January 5 on narcotics charges and pleaded not guilty.
- Venezuela’s Supreme Court shifted the head-of-state duties to Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who was sworn in as acting president before the National Assembly.
- Russia, China and the DPRK condemned the U.S. action and called for the pair’s release, and Trump later said the United States would take temporary control of Venezuela and seek compensation for U.S. oil companies.