US-Venezuela tensions LIVE: Maduro arrives at NY federal court, loyalists send mixed signals from Caracas

The Russian embassy in Caracas has advised Russian citizens to avoid travelling to Venezuela following the abduction of Nicolás Maduro and his wife last week, state-run news agency TASS reported.

Moscow said it was deeply concerned by the incident and condemned it as an “act of armed aggression” against Venezuela.

Bangladesh has expressed concern over the recent developments in Venezuela, calling for a diplomatic resolution.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said Bangladesh believes diplomacy and dialogue should prevail in resolving disputes between countries, and reaffirmed its commitment to the principles of the UN Charter and international law.

Mexican President Gloria Sheinbaum has once again condemned the US intervention in Venezuela and the seizure of President Nicolás Maduro, reaffirming Mexico’s long-standing opposition to foreign interference.

Speaking at a news conference in Mexico City on Monday, Sheinbaum said Mexico’s stance against intervention is “firm, clear and historic”, stressing that the country categorically rejects involvement in the internal affairs of other nations.

She said Latin America’s history shows that intervention has never delivered democracy, adding that only people themselves can determine their future, exercise sovereignty over natural resources and choose their form of government.

Sheinbaum underlined that sovereignty and self-determination are “neither optional nor negotiable” for Mexico and said the Americas do not belong to any single doctrine or power, but to the peoples of each country.

Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been assigned a court-appointed attorney, David Wikstrom, for his initial appearance before a judge in New York later today, a person familiar with the matter told CNN.

Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, arrived at the courthouse earlier this morning ahead of the scheduled appearance.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro said Monday he would “take up arms” in response to threats from US President Donald Trump, who over the weekend authorised the military capture of Venezuela’s leader.

Petro, a former guerrilla and Colombia’s first leftist president, said on X: “I swore not to touch a weapon again… but for the homeland I will take up arms again.”

Trump had earlier said Petro should “watch his ass” and called Colombia’s leader “a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States.”

Extra security measures have been implemented around the federal courthouse in Manhattan.

Bicycle-rack barricades have been set up along both sides of Worth Street for several blocks near the main entrance. Police officers in marked vehicles are also patrolling the area, AP reported.

The case against Nicolás Maduro has been assigned to federal Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein, 92, who was nominated and confirmed by President Bill Clinton in 1998.

Hellerstein, a senior judge in the Southern District of New York since 2011, has presided over cases related to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, as well as other national security and terrorism matters.

Earlier this year, former Venezuelan general and intelligence chief Hugo Carvajal Barrios pleaded guilty before Hellerstein to charges linked to narco-terrorism and drug trafficking.

A helicopter carrying former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has landed at a heliport close to the New York courthouse where he is scheduled to appear later today.

Maduro, dressed in a tan outfit with bright orange shoes, was escorted into a van after the landing. He is now expected to proceed to the courthouse.

Nicolás Maduro was escorted under heavy security to a New York City court ahead of his arraignment.pic.twitter.com/FaXW13temO

— Reporter Tribune (@ReporterTribune) January 5, 2026

French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday said he “neither supported nor approved” the US military operation targeting Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, according to a government spokesman.

The statement came after Macron’s earlier comment suggesting that Venezuelans “can only rejoice” at Maduro’s overthrow, which drew criticism from some French political figures who saw it as pandering to US President Donald Trump.

The clarification also contrasted with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot’s response on Saturday, in which he condemned the US operation as a violation of international law and emphasised that Venezuela’s crisis cannot be resolved through external intervention.

Switzerland has frozen any assets held in the country by Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro and his associates, the Federal Council said on Monday, after his arrest by US forces in Caracas and transfer to the United States.

The freeze, which takes effect immediately and will remain in place for four years, is intended to prevent the movement of potentially illicit funds and comes in addition to sanctions Switzerland has imposed on Venezuela since 2018.

The measure does not apply to members of the current Venezuelan government. Swiss authorities said any assets found to have been illicitly obtained would be returned for the benefit of the Venezuelan people.

The indictment alleges that Nicolás Maduro and his associates gave law enforcement protection and logistical support to major drug trafficking groups, including the Sinaloa Cartel and the Tren de Aragua gang. In return, these organisations allegedly sent profits to senior officials who shielded them, the US Justice Department said.

Among other allegations, Maduro is accused of selling Venezuelan diplomatic passports to known drug traffickers and enabling flights under diplomatic cover to move drug proceeds from Mexico to Venezuela.

Asian and European stocks edged higher, while oil prices remained largely unchanged on the first trading day after the United States carried out a large-scale military operation in Venezuela and captured the country’s president.

In the US, Dow futures were mostly flat, while S&P 500 futures pointed to a 0.3 percent rise in early trade.

Markets have so far shown caution. Mohit Kumar, an economist at Jefferies, said US and European firms could eventually gain greater access to Venezuela’s vast mineral resources, but added that there were “too many uncertainties” for markets to factor in the developments at this stage.

Deutsche Bank analysts echoed the view, noting that geopolitical shocks typically do not have a lasting impact on equities unless they begin to affect core economic indicators such as inflation.

Oil markets also showed little reaction. Brent crude, the global benchmark, was down about 0.1 percent. Amrita Sen, founder of research firm Energy Aspects, said global oil supplies remain ample, adding there was “no real fear of shortages” following the US strikes on oil-rich Venezuela.

She also said expectations of a quick increase in Venezuelan oil output were limited. “Venezuela does have fantastic reserves, but to raise production by half a million barrels per day would take at least two years and around $10 billion,” Sen told CNN.

Meanwhile, gold prices jumped 2.7 percent as investors moved towards safe-haven assets.

France’s foreign ministry on Monday expressed “regret” over what it said was a failure to respect international law during the recent US military action in Venezuela.

“International law was not respected in the means of action used. We regret that,” foreign ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux told TF1, according to broadcaster BFMTV.

Iran’s foreign ministry has called for the release of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, describing their capture by the US as “completely illegal.”

“Kidnapping the president of Venezuela and his wife is not something to be proud of,” said foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei. Iran condemned the US operation, saying it violated international law and warning that “this dangerous precedent will certainly have serious consequences for the entire international community.”

The statements come as widespread protests continue in Iran, prompting President Donald Trump to threaten US intervention if crackdowns result in the deaths of peaceful protesters. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said: “We’re watching it very closely. If they start killing people like they have in the past, I think they’re going to get hit very hard by the United States.”

The US Department of Justice has unsealed an indictment against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, charging him with narco-terrorism conspiracy and drug trafficking.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi shared a link to the indictment on X, accusing Maduro of leading a 25-year conspiracy to smuggle cocaine into the US with the assistance of regional drug and terrorist networks.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke with Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado yesterday, with both condemning Nicolás Maduro’s “brutally oppressive, criminal, and illegitimate regime.”

Machado is not considered a likely replacement for Maduro, with former US President Donald Trump saying she lacks the support and respect needed to lead the country.

Machado had planned to run against Maduro in 2024 but was barred from standing. She went into hiding fearing persecution and later left Venezuela secretly with US assistance to accept her Nobel Peace Prize. She had supported Trump’s pressure campaign on Maduro in the months leading up to his removal.

The two leaders emphasised “the importance of seizing this opportunity for freedom, democracy, peace, and prosperity in Venezuela,” according to a readout of the call. Carney also pledged Canada’s support for a “peaceful, negotiated, and Venezuelan-led transition process that promotes stability and respects the democratic will of the Venezuelan people.”

Saturday’s dramatic events followed the unprecedented US seizure of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro on drug trafficking charges, a move that marked the most aggressive assertion of American power in Latin America in decades. President Donald Trump framed the operation as the collapse of a hostile regime, vowing that Washington would “run” Venezuela and seize control of its oil sector, a declaration that galvanised opposing camps across an already polarised continent.

Argentina’s president, Javier Milei, Trump’s ideological soulmate, framed the moment as a stark moral divide. One side, he said, stood for “democracy, the defence of life, freedom and property.” “On the other side,” Milei added, “are accomplices of a narco-terrorist and bloody dictatorship that has been a cancer for our region.” Other right-wing leaders across South America similarly seized on Maduro’s ouster to declare their ideological affinity with Trump. Read more

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday made an indirect reference to the United States, urging major powers to respect the development paths chosen by other nations and to abide by international law and the principles of the UN Charter, China’s state news agency Xinhua reported. Xi said global stability depends on leading countries setting an example by upholding these norms.

Speaking at a meeting with Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping warned that in a world facing growing uncertainty and turmoil, “unilateral” and “bullying” actions are seriously undermining the international order.

Within hours of the operation, US President Donald Trump shared an image of the detained Venezuelan leader on Truth Social, with users drawing attention to the grey Nike Tech Fleece tracksuit worn by Nicolás Maduro at the time of his capture.

The photograph posted on Trump’s account showed Maduro blindfolded aboard a US naval vessel, surrounded by American personnel as he was taken out of Venezuela. Read more.

The interim leader of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, has noticeably softened her tone over the past 24 hours, as President Donald Trump appeared confident that she would cooperate with the United States going forward.

A statement issued by Rodríguez said she wanted to prioritise a shift towards balanced and respectful relations with Washington.

“We invite the US to collaborate with us on a cooperation agenda focused on a shared development under international law to strengthen lasting coexistence,” Rodríguez said.

Addressing the US President directly, she added, “Donald Trump, our peoples and our region deserve peace and dialogue, not war”.

Denmark’s Prime Minister has urged Donald Trump to “stop the threats” over taking control of Greenland.

Mette Frederiksen said “it makes absolutely no sense to talk about the need for the United States to take over Greenland”, adding, “The US has no right to annex any of the three nations in the Danish kingdom.”

Her comments followed a post by Katie Miller, the wife of Trump aide Stephen Miller, who shared an image of Greenland coloured like the American flag alongside the word “SOON”.

The legality of the US operation to capture Nicolás Maduro will come under scrutiny at today’s United Nations Security Council meeting, though Washington is not expected to face strong criticism from its allies.

Russia, China, and other Maduro supporters have condemned the raid as a violation of international law, while US allies, who oppose Maduro, have largely refrained from openly criticising the use of military force.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned the action sets “a dangerous precedent,” and many legal experts consider it illegal.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro sharply rejected threats and accusations from US President Donald Trump, who accused him of drug trafficking and hinted at possible military action against Colombia following a US raid that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Trump claimed Colombia was “run by a sick man” involved in cocaine production and said intervention “sounds good.” Petro pushed back, saying his name does not appear in any court records and telling Trump to “stop slandering me.” He condemned the US action in Venezuela as illegal, added that “friends do not bomb,” and warned against threats toward Latin American leaders.

Former Trump adviser Fiona Hill had flagged this play years ago. Back in 2019, she warned that Russia was floating a blunt deal: Moscow would step back from backing Venezuela if the US looked the other way on Ukraine. It was classic great-power bargaining—trading influence in America’s backyard for dominance in Eastern Europe.

Fast forward to now, and that prediction feels less theoretical. With Nicolás Maduro captured and Venezuela back in global focus, Hill’s warning is being re-examined as a reminder of how Russia thinks in terms of leverage, swaps and spheres of influence.

Read the full story here.

Protests have erupted in cities worldwide opposing the United States’ military action in Venezuela and the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro.

In South Korea, more than 9,000 miles (14,500 kilometres) from Venezuela, dozens of demonstrators gathered near the US Embassy in Seoul to denounce what they called US military interference.

“I don’t think everyone in Venezuela supports the Maduro administration. However, the genuine right to judge the Maduro regime does not belong to the United States,” activist Yang Hyo-young told Reuters on Monday.

A person wearing a Donald Trump mask participates in a rally near the U.S. embassy to denounce the U.S. attack on Venezuela in Seoul, South Korea. President Trump confirmed that the U.S. military carried out a large-scale strike in Caracas overnight, resulting in the capture of… pic.twitter.com/8XKwaASczn

— Getty Images News (@GettyImagesNews) January 5, 2026

Ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro is set to make his first appearance in a New York courtroom on Monday at noon (Eastern Time). The hearing will be held before US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, according to the Southern District of New York.

The appearance follows the Justice Department’s decision to unseal a new indictment on Saturday in a long-running federal drug-trafficking case. US prosecutors have been pursuing the case for nearly 15 years, with Maduro formally named as a defendant for the past six.

Judge Hellerstein, a 92-year-old appointee of former President Bill Clinton, has overseen the case for more than a decade and is known for presiding over several major, high-profile trials.

Oil prices ticked higher in early Asian trade while precious metals rallied, as investors digested the US capture of Nicolás Maduro in a weekend operation. Equity markets opened on a strong note, with major indexes in Japan and South Korea pushing to fresh record highs. US stock futures were mixed after posting modest gains on Friday.

In early trading, US benchmark crude rose 12 cents to $57.44 a barrel, while Brent crude added 14 cents to $60.89.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 leapt 2.9% to 51,777.99, returning from a year-end break after closing 2025 at a record high. South Korea’s Kospi surged 2.3% to 4,406.55, extending last week’s record close. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 edged up 0.1%, while Taiwan’s main index climbed 2.1%.

The United States launched a dramatic military operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whom Washington has long accused of leading a narco-state and fueling drug trafficking and regional instability. The Trump administration justified the raid as part of a law-enforcement effort tied to indictments against Maduro, but critics say deeper motives include controlling Venezuela’s vast oil reserves and reasserting US influence in the Western Hemisphere. Months of naval buildup, strikes on vessels, and legal pressure preceded the night raid that seized Maduro and his wife and brought them to the US to face charges—with significant geopolitical fallout.

Read the full story here. 

‼️Maduro, wearing flip-flops and home clothes, was taken to a Brooklyn pre-trial detention center — he wished everyone good night and a happy New Year

In the second video, he can be heard addressing those present in English.

Maduro and his wife were transferred to a detention… pic.twitter.com/jjaesfgJ7Z

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) January 4, 2026

Delcy Rodriguez, Venezuela’s interim President created a commission to seek the release of deposed President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, who were flown out after US-led airstrikes in Caracas.

Rodriguez tapped her brother Jorge, president of the National Assembly, and Foreign Minister Yvan Gil to co-chair the commission.

Information Minister Freddy Nanez will also be on the commission, he said in the announcement.

Hundreds of people took to the streets of Venezuela calling for the release of ousted President Nicolss Maduro, with protesters holding his portraits and the national flag, demanding his freedom.

THIS is Venezuela RIGHT NOW

Hundreds on the streets calling for Maduro’s RELEASE

Holding his portraits and giant national flag pic.twitter.com/u3lpv8t0AZ

— RT (@RT_com) January 4, 2026

Venezuela-US conflict LIVE: Amid Trump’s numerous warnings, acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez said she has extended an invitation to the United States government to collaborate on an “agenda of cooperation.”

She said that the agenda would be aimed at “shared development, within the framework of international law to strengthen lasting community coexistence.”

Rodríguez said Venezuela will “prioritise” moving toward “balanced and respectful international relations” with the US and the region. “President Donald Trump: our people and our region deserve peace and dialogue, not war. This has always been President Nicolás Maduro’s message, and it is a message of all Venezuela right now,” she said. “Venezuela has the right to peace, to development, to sovereignty and to a future,” she added.

Image- Agencies

Venezuela-US conflict LIVE: Trump concluded his chat with the press by making it clear that the United States is ‘in charge’ of Venezuela, even as the country’s interim leader has said it will defend its resources.

Trump told reporters on Air Force One that he has not spoken to Delcy Rodríguez but that “at the right time I will.” Asked if he’ll demand free and fair elections in the upended nation, Trump said, “It depends.” Before elections take place, he said, the country needs to be “fixed.”

“We’ll have elections at the right time, but the main thing you have to fix — it’s a broken country,” he said.

Trump, who has made no secret about wanting to tap into Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, also said oil companies want to enter the country. “We’re going to have to have big investments by the oil companies and bring back the infrastructure,” he averred.