Following a special military operation in Venezuela, the United States has detained President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and transferred them to U.S. custody. On Saturday, the aircraft carrying the Maduro couple landed at Stewart Air National Guard Base, located about 70 kilometers north of New York City.
Upon arrival at the base, President Maduro and his wife were flown by helicopter to the West Side Heliport in Manhattan. From there, they were taken to the New York office of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). After the completion of preliminary legal formalities, the couple were transferred to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
The Maduro couple face charges related to drug trafficking and arms smuggling. President Maduro, however, has consistently denied all such allegations.
Meanwhile, after Maduro’s arrival in New York, U.S. authorities released a video showing the detained Venezuelan president walking through a corridor at the DEA’s New York office. In the footage, he is seen wearing a black hoodie. The blue carpet beneath his feet clearly bears the inscription “DEA NYD” (Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Division). As he walks, Maduro can be heard greeting those present with the words, “Happy New Year.”
In the wake of President Maduro’s detention, uncertainty has emerged over Venezuela’s internal governance. Responding to the situation, the country’s Supreme Court instructed Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to assume the role of interim president. According to Reuters, the decision was taken to preserve state order, protect national sovereignty, and ensure the continuity of administrative functions.
International Reaction
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed “deep concern” over the manner in which the United States carried out a military operation in Venezuela and detained the country’s president and his wife. In a statement issued by his spokesperson, the Secretary-General warned that such actions could have “serious repercussions” for the region and may set a “dangerous precedent.”
Calling for full respect for the UN Charter and international law, Guterres said he was gravely concerned that international legal norms had not been upheld in the Venezuelan case. He also urged all parties to engage in dialogue while respecting human rights and the rule of law.
Against this backdrop, Colombia—backed by Russia and China—has called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Monday. Analysts believe that the detention of the Maduro couple and the unfolding developments could further complicate the already fragile geopolitical landscape of Latin America.