Venezuela’s Minister of Defense, Vladimir Padrino, has confirmed that a significant portion of President Nicolas Maduro’s security team was killed in the operation that led to his capture. In a televised statement, Padrino avoided giving an exact number of casualties, but stated that the operation was a direct attack on Venezuela’s sovereignty. The prison, established in the 1990s to address overcrowding, has previously housed several high-profile inmates. Padrino expressed support for the announcement to appoint Vice President Delcy Rodriguez as interim president, saying that the armed forces have been mobilized across the country to protect sovereignty, which he called “imperialist aggression.” According to Padrino, the military and security agencies are on high alert, ensuring the protection of key installations across the country.
Following the American military operation on Venezuela, President Nicolas Maduro was taken to New York on a plane and will be presented in a New York court, where he will face charges of drug trafficking and terrorism. The CIA’s role in the operation was first reported by The New York Times. US President Donald Trump announced that he would personally oversee Venezuela’s affairs, seize its oil reserves, and allow American oil companies to operate in the country. Trump claimed that Vice President Delcy Rodriguez is willing to comply with American demands. However, Vice President Rodriguez, in a statement after assuming the presidency, demanded the immediate release of President Maduro, stating that he is the legitimate president of Venezuela and that the country will never become a colony.
The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Venezuela, while the country’s oil exports have been halted following the American operation. An Afghan media report also stated that another Afghan refugee involved in drug trafficking was deported from Germany. The American envoy emphasized that the US government will not compromise on taking measures to combat drug trafficking, adding that the US cannot claim to be a supreme authority and attack any country. According to a news agency survey, only 33% of Americans support the US operation in Venezuela. Greenland’s Prime Minister, Jens Frederik Nielsen, stated that his country cannot be compared to Venezuela, expressing hope for improved relations with the US. Liberal Democrats have called for legal advice on the American operation in Venezuela, stating that Trump’s silence is tantamount to providing him with political protection. The American Vice President expressed gratitude for the sympathy expressed by those who condemned the storming of his home, as well as for the special cooperation of intelligence agencies on the matter.
