Delcy Rodriguez was sworn in as Venezuela's interim president on Monday during a parliamentary session in Caracas. This development followed the apprehension of Nicolas Maduro and Cilia Flores by US forces on Saturday and Maduro's subsequent appearance in a New York courtroom on Monday, where he pleaded not guilty to multiple charges. The events have prompted discussions at the United Nations Security Council, where representatives from Venezuela and the United States offered differing characterizations of the US operation.
Interim Presidency
Delcy Rodriguez, who has served as Vice President since 2018, assumed the interim presidency on Monday. The parliamentary session where she took office included demands for the release of Nicolas Maduro from US custody. Rodriguez characterized the apprehension of Maduro by US forces as a "kidnapping."
Apprehension and Court Proceedings
Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were apprehended by US forces in an overnight operation on Saturday. On Monday, Maduro appeared in a New York courtroom and entered a plea of not guilty to four charges:
- Narco-terrorism conspiracy
- Cocaine importation conspiracy
- Possession of machine guns and destructive devices
- Conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices
During the 30-minute hearing, Maduro asserted his continued status as the president of Venezuela. Following comments from an individual present in the courtroom, Maduro stated he was a "kidnapped president" and a "prisoner of war." Judge Alvin Hellerstein advised that such discussions would be addressed "in time and place." Maduro was subsequently escorted from the courtroom with Cilia Flores.
International Response
Prior to Maduro's court appearance, the United Nations Security Council convened an emergency session to discuss the situation. Samuel Moncada, Venezuela's ambassador, described the US action as an "illegitimate armed attack lacking any legal justification."
Mike Waltz, the US Ambassador to the UN, defended the operation, characterizing it as a "surgical law enforcement operation." Waltz stated that Venezuela's energy reserves should not be controlled by an individual he described as an "illegitimate leader" and a "fugitive from justice."