Yaqeen Video

On Monday, January 5, 2026, deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro appeared in a Manhattan federal court following a dramatic U.S. military operation in Caracas. Clad in a blue jail uniform, Maduro pleaded not guilty to charges of narco-terrorism and cocaine importation, defiantly asserting, "I am a kidnapped president. I am a prisoner of war."

The Legal Conflict: U.S. vs. International Law

The situation presents a stark tension between domestic enforcement and global sovereignty:

• U.S. Legal Position: The U.S. relies on the Ker-Frisbie doctrine, which allows American courts to try defendants regardless of how they were brought into the country (including via abduction).⁵ Furthermore, the U.S. does not recognize Maduro as a legitimate head of state, thus denying him sovereign immunity.  

• International Law Perspective: Many legal experts and the UN Secretary-General argue the operation violates Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, which prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity of a state.⁷ Critics label the extraction a "crime of aggression," as there was no UN Security Council mandate or immediate act of self-defense to justify the military incursion. 

The New Era: President Delcy Rodríguez

With Maduro in custody, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has been sworn in as interim president, backed by the Venezuelan military and the Supreme Tribunal of Justice.

What this means for the country:

• Pragmatic Continuity: Known as the "architect" of Venezuela’s recent economic stabilization, Rodríguez is likely to maintain socialist control while seeking limited market engagement to keep the oil sector afloat. 

• High-Stakes Diplomacy: While she initially condemned the U.S. "kidnapping," she has since called for an "agenda of cooperation."¹¹ However, President Trump has warned she will "pay a bigger price than Maduro" if she does not comply with U.S. demands regarding oil access and drug enforcement. 

Regional Impact:

• Shifting Power Dynamics: The U.S. intervention has put other leftist leaders in the region on high alert. Tensions are especially high with Colombia, where President Trump has already signaled potential future "operations."

• Geopolitical Vacuum: As the U.S. aims to "run and fix" Venezuela’s oil industry, regional neighbors fear a prolonged military occupation and a new wave of migration if the transition remains unstable.