Photo Credit; Getty Images
Venezuela's interim leadership said on Sunday it remains firmly united behind President Nicolás Maduro following his dramatic capture by U.S. forces, as uncertainty deepens over the country's political and economic future.
Maduro, 63, is being held at a detention facility in New York ahead of a court appearance on U.S. drug trafficking charges. His removal followed an overnight American military operation in Caracas ordered by President Donald Trump, who later claimed Washington would temporarily oversee Venezuela until a political transition is completed. Despite that declaration, senior officials loyal to Maduro continue to run state institutions in the capital.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello urged supporters to remain calm, insisting the government remains intact. "The unity of the revolutionary movement is guaranteed. There is only one president, and his name is Nicolás Maduro Moros," Cabello said in an audio message circulated by the ruling socialist party. He described the detention of Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores as an abduction and warned against what he called foreign provocations.
Images of Maduro blindfolded and handcuffed circulated widely, shocking citizens and drawing comparisons to past U.S. interventions in Latin America. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who also serves as oil minister, has assumed interim duties with the backing of Venezuela's Supreme Court, while maintaining that Maduro remains the legitimate president.
Rodríguez, viewed by analysts as a pragmatic figure due to her ties to the energy sector, has rejected Trump's suggestion that she is open to cooperating with Washington. Trump, speaking to U.S. media, warned she could face consequences if she fails to comply with American demands.
Venezuelan officials accuse the United States of targeting the country's vast oil reserves. Cabello said Trump's remarks about U.S. energy companies entering Venezuela confirmed long-standing fears of resource-driven intervention.
State oil company PDVSA has reportedly instructed several joint ventures to curb production as exports grind to a halt. Shipments from the OPEC member have stalled following a U.S. blockade of sanctioned tankers and the seizure of oil cargoes last month.
Inside Venezuela, streets remained mostly calm but tense. Shops opened with reduced hours, and residents quietly stocked up on food. Many opposition supporters avoided public celebrations, wary of potential instability.
International reaction has been divided. While several Western governments oppose Maduro's rule, critics questioned the legality of seizing a sitting head of state. The United Nations Security Council is set to convene as Russia and China condemned the operation, calling it a dangerous precedent.
Maduro has denied all criminal allegations since being indicted by U.S. prosecutors in 2020.
