Maduro from a New York prison: I am fine... and America warns its citizens in Venezuela
In a rapidly evolving situation in Venezuela following the recent military operation, the United States issued an urgent warning to its citizens to leave Venezuela immediately, describing the security situation as “unstable.” This warning coincided with the first message from ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from his detention in the United States, a week after his arrest in a special operation that sparked widespread international controversy.
A message of reassurance from behind bars
Nicolás Maduro broke his silence from his cell in a federal prison in Brooklyn, New York, where his son delivered a video message released by Venezuela's ruling party. In the message, his father declared, "We are fine... We are fighters." These words mark the first direct communication from the socialist leader since he and his wife, Cilia Flores, appeared in a U.S. court last Monday, pleading not guilty to drug trafficking charges. Their next hearing is scheduled for March 17.
Details of the military operation and its repercussions
The details of the arrest date back to an operation carried out by US special forces on January 3, which was accompanied by intensive airstrikes on the capital, Caracas. According to official Venezuelan statistics, this operation resulted in the deaths of approximately 100 people, further exacerbating internal tensions.
On the ground, Caracas witnessed demonstrations of approximately a thousand Chavista supporters, who chanted slogans demanding the return of Maduro and his wife, and expressed their solidarity with Maduro and Cilia, declaring, “Maduro and Cilia are our family.” In an attempt to fill the political void, acting President Delcy Rodríguez appeared at a public event, asserting in impassioned remarks, “We will not rest for a moment until the president returns… We will save him, of course we will.”.
Political context and international dimensions
This unprecedented event—the arrest of a head of state and his transfer to another country for trial—is reshaping the geopolitical landscape of Latin America. Historically, US-Venezuelan relations have been increasingly strained since the era of the late President Hugo Chávez, culminating in the imposition of crippling economic sanctions on Caracas.
Observers believe the timing of the operation, coming after the 2024 elections which the opposition denounced as fraudulent and coinciding with the start of Maduro's third term, carries profound implications regarding Washington's shift from economic sanctions to direct intervention. This radical shift presents the region with a range of scenarios, from potential security chaos—which prompted the warning to American citizens—to an international diplomatic struggle over the legitimacy of this action and its impact on global energy markets and regional stability.
