Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro after being raided and captured by the U.S authorized by President Donald Trump is said to be held at a detention facility in New York on Sunday.
During the early-Saturday operation, the U.S. launched multiple strikes on Venezuela causing power outages in parts of Caracas and involved strikes on key military facilities, which was said to be a distraction, as the U.S. Special Forces captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. They were flown by helicopter to a U.S Navy vessel offshore before being transported to the United States.
Photos and videos issued by the U.S authorities showed Maduro in handcuffs and a blindfold, and later walking through a corridor at the U.S, Drug Enforcement Administration, where he was heard offering New Year greeting, “Haappy New Year,” he said.
The aircaft transporting Maduro touched down near New York City on Saturday night, and escorted under heavy security in a large convoy to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
Trump said the United States would temporarily take control of the country until conditions allow for a safe and orderly transition of power, during a press conference scheduled by the Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida
“We will run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” he said.
Trump also added that major U.S. oil companies would return to Venezuela to revive and modernize the country’s deteriorated oil infrastructure, tapping into its vast reserves, which is the largest in the world, further adding that the United States was prepared to deploy ground troops to Venezuela if necessary, signaling a willingness to use direct military force. “We’re not afraid of boots on the ground,” he said.
Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodriguez called for the immediate release of Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, insisting Maduro remains Venezuela’s legitimate president, as the Venezuela court moved to install Rodriguez as interim leader.
“We demand the immediate release of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores,” Rodriguez said, calling Maduro “the only president of Venezuela.”
After the attacks, streets in Venezuela has been mostly calm, with few soldiers patrolling some parts and of the city. And a very small group of Maduro supporters were seen gathered inn Caracas.
The United Nations Security Council scheduled to meet on Monday to talk about the ongoing matter, which Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described as “a dangerous precedent,” as Russia and China both strong allies of Venezuela voiced criticism against the strikes performed by the United States.
