U.S. captures Nicolás Maduro; Delcy Rodríguez sworn in as interim president

The United States military removed Venezuela’s leader, Nicolás Maduro, and flew him to a Manhattan courthouse to face charges, while Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as the country’s interim president, The New York Times reported. The operation, described in the paper as a form of “virtual occupation,” included about 15,000 American troops positioned nearby.

Venezuelans on the ground said the country had not yet descended into chaos; Anatoly Kurmanaev, reporting from Caracas, described a mood of shock and “cautious optimism.” The Times said Rodríguez initially protested Maduro’s seizure but quickly grew more conciliatory and that her tenure has seen some economic growth and support from the business community.

The move has reverberated globally: the Times said leaders in China and Russia were watching closely and that President Trump justified the action with a so‑called Trump Corollary in his National Security Strategy. At an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting, many countries, including France, denounced the U.S.

action. Maduro and his wife pleaded not guilty to charges including drug trafficking; Maduro insisted he remained president and said he had been “kidnapped.” The paper also reported attempts by at least 16 oil tankers to evade a U.S. naval blockade and a rise in oil stocks, with Chevron up about 5 percent.

Key Topics

World, Nicolás Maduro, Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela, Trump Corollary, U.n. Security Council