Venezuela’s deposed president, Nicolas Maduro, is scheduled to appear before a federal judge in New York at noon on Monday to be formally informed of the criminal charges filed against him.
A court official has confirmed to AFP.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were seized by United States forces during a pre-dawn operation in Caracas on Saturday and flown to New York. The pair are facing charges of narco-terrorism, linked to allegations that they facilitated the trafficking of large quantities of cocaine into the United States.
Meanwhile, several Latin American nations and Spain have rejected any suggestion of external control over Venezuela following remarks by Donald Trump indicating that Washington could “run” the oil-rich country.
In a joint statement on Sunday, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay and Spain expressed their “rejection” of the removal of Maduro by US forces and voiced “concern about any attempt at governmental control, administration or external appropriation of natural or strategic resources” in Venezuela.
Trump also issued a stern warning to Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, threatening consequences if she fails to cooperate with Washington.
“If she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro,” Trump told The Atlantic in a telephone interview on Sunday.
The Trump administration said it is prepared to work with remaining members of Maduro’s government, provided US objectives are met. These reportedly include opening Venezuela’s vast crude oil reserves to American investment.
Rodríguez, who was confirmed as interim president by Venezuela’s Supreme Court and backed by the military, struck a defiant tone following the raid on Caracas.
She insisted that Maduro remains the country’s only legitimate leader and vowed that Venezuela is “ready to defend our natural resources.”
Although Trump has long criticised US-led nation-building and regime-change efforts abroad, he suggested on Saturday that Washington would assume control in Venezuela.
In comments to The Atlantic, Trump said, “Rebuilding there and regime change — anything you want to call it — is better than what you have right now.”
“Rebuilding is not a bad thing in Venezuela’s case. The country’s gone to hell. It’s a failed country. It’s a totally failed country. It’s a country that’s a disaster in every way,” he added.