Overview
- Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores entered not guilty pleas to narco‑terrorism and related charges in Manhattan federal court, with the judge setting a March 17 hearing.
- Maduro’s lawyer called the capture a “military abduction” and Flores’s attorney reported injuries during the raid, requesting medical evaluation granted by the court.
- In Caracas, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as interim president and formed a commission to seek the couple’s release.
- The U.N. Security Council discussed the operation’s legality as Secretary‑General António Guterres voiced concern, with Russia, China and others condemning the strike and some U.S. allies offering limited support.
- President Trump said the U.S. is “in charge” of Venezuela and later identified himself as the top decision‑maker, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio framed the action as a law‑enforcement arrest and pointed to a continuing naval blockade for leverage over oil policy.