Overview
- Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores appeared in federal court in Manhattan, pleaded not guilty to narcotrafficking-related charges, and heard the judge set the next hearing for March 17.
- Maduro declared himself innocent, insisted he remains Venezuela’s president, and described himself as a “prisoner of war,” while Flores appeared with visible injuries noted by her defense.
- U.S. officials, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, defended the mission as months in the making and tied to long‑standing indictments, detailing a replica of Maduro’s residence used in planning.
- At an emergency UN Security Council session, the secretary‑general raised concerns about international law and multiple nations criticized the U.S., as the American envoy framed the action as a justified arrest operation.
- President Trump promoted a U.S.-guided transition and potential American oil investment, though analysts expect only a moderate near‑term market impact given Venezuela’s low output and the practical constraints on restoring production.