On January 2nd, Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was captured by U.S. Forces in Operation “Southern Spear” to be extradited to New York City to stand trial for narco terrorism as international pressure mounts on the U.S. for its raid.
After the extraction of Maduro, President Donald Trump has stated that the US will run Venezuela until the next elections take place to elect a new government. “Trump said the U.S. was “going to run Venezuela” until a “judicious” transition of power. At that moment, there were no visible signs the U.S. was controlling the country” according to the Associated Press.
Maduro has a variety of defense options as he stands trial due to him being a former head of state which grants legal immunity, “The imprisoned leader’s own lawyer, Barry Pollack, said in court that the defense team will be arguing Maduro is immune from criminal charges as the head of a foreign government,” according to USA Today.
Multiple South American countries have opposed Trump’s strikes and running of Venezuela as the United Nations Security Council called an emergency meeting in wake of the operation. “Both allies and adversaries of the United States on Monday used an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council to voice opposition to the audacious in Venezuela that captured leader Nicolás Maduro,” as stated by the Associated Press.
Maduro’s capture and legal trial can present many future problems for the U.S. for its possible endeavors in Venezuela as the interim President and Nobel Peace prize winner Delcy Rodriguez elected after Maduro to possibly oppose or support the U.S. in relations.
