Overview
- Trump said Venezuela will ship 30 to 50 million barrels of sanctioned crude to U.S. ports at market prices, with sale proceeds controlled by the U.S. president.
- Interim leader Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in in Caracas and publicly rejected any external control, as U.S. officials say she is cooperating with them.
- At an emergency UN Security Council session, Russia and China condemned the U.S. action and demanded Maduro’s release, while the UN chief warned of regional destabilization.
- Maduro pleaded not guilty to drug-related charges in New York, with the next court hearing set for March 17, as Washington characterizes the raid as a surgical law-enforcement measure.
- Reporters highlighted suspicious pre-operation bets on Polymarket that profited from Maduro losing power, raising questions about possible insider knowledge.