BREAKING: Nicolás Maduro pleads not guilty in New York federal court to drug, narco-terrorism and weapons charges after being captured by U.S. forces in Venezuela.

Abducted Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro has declared himself “innocent” and a “decent man”, saying he is still the president of his country, as he pleaded not guilty to federal drug trafficking charges in a United States courtroom.

Interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez calls for a “balanced and respectful” relationship with Washington during the transition of power, as President Donald Trump insists the US is in control of Venezuela.

Trump has threatened further military action against Venezuela as well as against Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who dismisses the threat as “illegitimate”. Trump also warns Mexico it must “get its act together”.

The United Nations Security Council is to meet to discuss the US action in Venezuela, which UN chief Antonio Guterres described as a dangerous precedent.
Maduro was abducted on Saturday by US forces and taken to New York in a military operation that also saw large-scale strikes on numerous locations in Venezuela.

Venezuela’s Jorge Rodriguez re-appointed as head of National Assembly
Jorge ‍Rodriguez was re-appointed ⁠as the President of ‍Venezuela’s National Assembly on Monday.

Rodriguez ⁠has been President of the National Assembly ‌since 2021 and is the ‌brother ‌of ⁠Interim President Delcy Rodriguez.

stand just how they are planning to toe the line between remaining an anti-imperialistic revolutionary party inside Venezuela to show that they still hold power, while at the same time opening the door of Venezuela to negotiating with the US.

[The US] still has a huge military presence just outside of Venezuela, and [Trump] is threatening the country and in particular Delcy Rodriguez with the possibility of a second wave of attacks.

At the same time, the police and the military are starting to operate inside Venezuela against those who might have supported the US operation.

A decree that just came out … ordered the police to go after anybody who not only who supported the US, but also promoted a US operation in the country, which essentially means that anybody who is part of the opposition right now could be considered a target.

Erdogan says he told Trump Venezuela must not be dragged into instability
Turkish President ‍Recep Tayyip Erdogan ‍said he told US President Donald Trump in ⁠a phone call that Venezuela must not be ‍dragged into instability.

Speaking after ⁠a cabinet meeting, Erdogan also said Ankara would stand with the people of Venezuela.

He said Maduro and the Venezuelan ‌people had shown in the past that they were friends of the ‌Turkish nation, and that violating countries’ ‌sovereignty and ⁠international laws could create major global problems.

Erdogan also said it was ‌important for the rules-based international order to be preserved.

: Maduro says ‘I was kidnapped’ as he pleads not guilty in US court

Abducted Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro taken to NYC courthouse


Abducted Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro has declared himself “innocent” and a “decent man”, saying he is still the president of his country, as he pleaded not guilty to federal drug trafficking charges in a United States courtroom.

Interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez calls for a “balanced and respectful” relationship with Washington during the transition of power, as President Donald Trump insists the US is in control of Venezuela.

Trump has threatened further military action against Venezuela as well as against Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who dismisses the threat as “illegitimate”. Trump also warns Mexico it must “get its act together”.

The United Nations Security Council is to meet to discuss the US action in Venezuela, which UN chief Antonio Guterres described as a dangerous precedent.
Maduro was abducted on Saturday by US forces and taken to New York in a military operation that also saw large-scale strikes on numerous locations in Venezuela.
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Venezuela’s Jorge Rodriguez re-appointed as head of National Assembly
Jorge ‍Rodriguez was re-appointed ⁠as the President of ‍Venezuela’s National Assembly on Monday.

Rodriguez ⁠has been President of the National Assembly ‌since 2021 and is the ‌brother ‌of ⁠Interim President Delcy Rodriguez.



The speech that we’re hoping to hear from the interim President Delcy Rodriguez at the National Assembly will be key to understand just how they are planning to toe the line between remaining an anti-imperialistic revolutionary party inside Venezuela to show that they still hold power, while at the same time opening the door of Venezuela to negotiating with the US.

[The US] still has a huge military presence just outside of Venezuela, and [Trump] is threatening the country and in particular Delcy Rodriguez with the possibility of a second wave of attacks.

At the same time, the police and the military are starting to operate inside Venezuela against those who might have supported the US operation.

A decree that just came out … ordered the police to go after anybody who not only who supported the US, but also promoted a US operation in the country, which essentially means that anybody who is part of the opposition right now could be considered a target.


Erdogan says he told Trump Venezuela must not be dragged into instability
Turkish President ‍Recep Tayyip Erdogan ‍said he told US President Donald Trump in ⁠a phone call that Venezuela must not be ‍dragged into instability.

Speaking after ⁠a cabinet meeting, Erdogan also said Ankara would stand with the people of Venezuela.

He said Maduro and the Venezuelan ‌people had shown in the past that they were friends of the ‌Turkish nation, and that violating countries’ ‌sovereignty and ⁠international laws could create major global problems.

Erdogan also said it was ‌important for the rules-based international order to be preserved.


‘I am innocent’, says Maduro
After judge Alvin Hellerstein read the charges against Maduro, including “narco-terrorism conspiracy” and asked for his plea, Maduro replied: “I am innocent. I am not guilty of anything that is mentioned here.”

Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, also stressed her innocence when asked for her plea: “Not guilty. Completely innocent,” she said.