Venezuela-Trump newest: Fears develop over Trump invading Greenland after newest US risk in opposition to Nato ally | EUROtoday

Recap: How US strikes and seize of Venezuelan president unfolded

  • The world was shocked when the U.S. launched strikes on Venezuela within the early hours of Saturday (January 3), which rocked the capital of Caracas, whereas U.S. forces captured President Nicolas Maduro and his spouse Cilia Flores from their house in a “meticulously planned” operation that was months within the making.
  • Maduro and his spouse have been pressured from their house and brought to New York by way of a U.S. Navy vessel, the place they have been indicted on a number of offenses, together with narco-terrorism.
  • President Donald Trump and high administration officers held a press convention at Mar-a-Lago Saturday morning, the place Trump introduced the U.S. could be “running” Venezuela within the meantime.
  • Trump didn’t provide specifics about who could be operating the nation, however mentioned his officers could be a part of a staff working with the Venezuelans within the interim.
  • The president talked about Venezuela’s oil business a number of instances throughout the press convention, resulting in accusations from critics that the army motion was about oil, and never medication, because the administration has claimed.
  • Maduro and his spouse arrived on U.S. soil late afternoon Saturday and have been in New York City by the night.
  • Maduro is at present being held at Brooklyn’s infamous Metropolitan Detention Center forward of his first look in courtroom, scheduled for Monday.
  • Trump issued a risk to Maduro’s vp that she might face a destiny worse than the ousted Venezuelan chief “if she does not do what’s right.”
  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared on the Sunday morning reveals, the place he strengthened the Trump administration’s message that the seize of Maduro “had to be done.”
  • Rubio refused to provide particulars about who was operating the nation proper now and mentioned folks have been “fixating” on it.

Rhian Lubin4 January 2026 15:49

UK minister refuses to say whether or not UK would condemn any US motion in opposition to Greenland

Political correspondent Millie Cooke reviews:

British Home Office minister Mike Tapp refused to say whether or not the UK authorities would condemn U.S. motion if Donald Trump have been to maneuver in opposition to Greenland.

Asked concerning the U.S. president’s threats, Tapp instructed Sky News: “I’d be really clear that allies do matter, which is why these careful diplomatic conversations behind the scenes are ongoing with the United States and with our European allies and five eyes partners, and we’re not going to give a running commentary.”

Pressed on whether or not he might say Britain would condemn any motion in opposition to Greenland, he mentioned: “These are both NATO members, and I’m really proud that NATO has used discussion over division.”

Pressed once more, he mentioned: “The Venezuelan issue is obviously different to the Greenland issue, but that’s for them to have those discussions. It’s for NATO to have that solid anchor to ensure that there is no division here.”

He later added: “This isn’t for me to sit here and talk about hypotheticals that could go on forever.”

Alex Croft5 January 2026 09:10

China reiterates ‘grave concern’ over Maduro seize

China’s overseas ministry on Monday reiterated Beijing’s stance on the scenario after the U.S. assault on Venezuela and known as for the rapid launch of President Nicolas Maduro.

Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian instructed an everyday press briefing that Beijing is gravely involved over the U.S. seize of Maduro and his spouse and is carefully following the safety scenario.

China has maintained constructive communication and cooperation with the Venezuelan authorities, Lin mentioned.

Alex Croft5 January 2026 08:49

Trump says that US is ‘in charge’ of Venezuela after seize of Maduro – ICYMI

Trump says that US is ‘in charge’ of Venezuela after seize of Maduro

Shweta Sharma5 January 2026 08:35

What are the U.S. expenses in opposition to Nicolas Maduro?

Washington has deemed Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro an illegitimate dictator, since he declared victory in a 2018 election marred by allegations of irregularities.

U.S. prosecutors say he’s the kingpin of a cartel of Venezuelan political and army officers, who’ve for many years conspired with drug trafficking teams and U.S.-designated terrorist organizations to flood the U.S. with 1000’s of tons of cocaine.

Maduro was first indicted in 2020 as a part of a long-running narcotics trafficking case in opposition to present and former Venezuelan officers and Colombian guerrillas.

In a brand new indictment unsealed Saturday, prosecutors allege that Maduro personally oversaw a state-sponsored cocaine trafficking community that partnered with a number of the world’s most violent and prolific drug trafficking teams, together with Mexico’s Sinaloa and Zetas cartels, the Colombian paramilitary group FARC and the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.

“As Venezuela’s President and now de-facto ruler, Maduro allows cocaine-fueled corruption to flourish for his own benefit, for the benefit of members of his ruling regime, and for the benefit of his family members,” in keeping with the indictment filed by prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office within the Southern District of New York.

Alex Croft5 January 2026 08:20

Judge presiding over Maduro listening to has had the case in his courtroom for years

Judge Alvin Okay. Hellerstein has had the case of Nicolas Maduro in his courtroom for years after the preliminary indictment in opposition to the ousted Venezuelan chief and his internal circle first dropped in 2020.

The 92-year-old decide can be presiding over President Donald Trump’s try to maneuver his hush cash case from New York prison courtroom into federal courtroom.

Maduro is predicted to seem Monday at midday ET.

A view of the Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse, the place Nicolas Maduro is predicted to face courtroom at 12 (AFP/Getty)

Alex Croft5 January 2026 08:02

Maduro to face New York courtroom at 12pm ET (5pm GMT)

Nicolas Maduro is about to seem in Manhattan federal courtroom on Monday to face narco-terrorism expenses, days after his seize by the U.S. army.

Maduro, 63, and his spouse, Cilia Flores, have been jailed in Brooklyn after U.S. forces seized them from Caracas in a shock weekend raid.

They are each set to seem on the listening to scheduled for 12pm E.T. (5pm GMT) earlier than U.S. District Judge Alvin Okay. Hellerstein.

Maduro is charged with narco-terrorism, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine weapons and harmful gadgets, and conspiracy to own machine weapons and harmful gadgets. He faces a long time to life in jail on every rely if convicted.

It is unclear if both had obtained legal professionals, or if they’d enter pleas.

VENEZUELA-USA-LATIN AMERICA-DIVISIONS (AP)

Alex Croft5 January 2026 07:47

Venezuela’s appearing president requires ‘agenda of cooperation’ with US

Venezuela’s appearing president Delcy Rodriguez has responded to Donald Trump’s newest threats in a press release after she was sworn in.

She invited the U.S. authorities to collaborate on an agenda of cooperation, placing a conciliatory tone as she mentioned Venezuela “aspires to live without external threats” and desires respectful relations with the United States.

Rodriguez has known as for relations that are “premised on sovereign equality and non-interference”, each with the U.S. and with different neighbouring nations within the area.

“We invite the US government to collaborate with us on an agenda of cooperation oriented towards shared development within the framework of international law to strengthen lasting community coexistence,” she added.

“President Donald Trump, our peoples and our area deserve peace and dialogue, not battle. This has all the time been President Nicolás Maduro’s message, and it’s the message of all of Venezuela proper now.”

Alex Croft5 January 2026 07:37

Top administration officers to be briefed on Venezuela

Top Trump administration officers will temporary a small group of bipartisan lawmakers on Venezuela in a labeled assembly later right now, CNN reviews.

The briefing is predicted to happen at 5:30 p.m. ET and shall be carried out by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Attorney General Pam Bondi, amongst others.

Members of the Senate and House Foreign Relations Committee, Armed Services Committees shall be amongst these being briefed, per CNN.

Mike Bedigan5 January 2026 07:22

Rubio says US will not govern Venezuela however will press for adjustments by oil blockade

Secretary of state Marco Rubio mentioned the U.S. doesn’t plan to manipulate Venezuela day after day, clarifying that American management could be restricted to imposing an present oil quarantine to stress coverage adjustments after the elimination of Nicolás Maduro.

His feedback aimed to ease fears of a chronic U.S. intervention, contrasting with president Donald Trump’s repeated claims that the U.S. would “run” Venezuela quickly.

“And so that’s the sort of control the president is pointing to when he says that,” Rubio mentioned on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”

“We continue with that quarantine, and we expect to see that there will be changes, not just in the way the oil industry is run for the benefit of the people, but also so that they stop the drug trafficking.”

The blockade on sanctioned oil tankers — a few of which have been seized by the U.S. — “remains in place, and that’s a tremendous amount of leverage that will continue to be in place until we see changes that not just further the national interest of the United States, which is number one, but also that lead to a better future for the people of Venezuela,” he added.

While Trump continued to insist on U.S. management and oversight, Rubio emphasised leverage by sanctions relatively than direct governance, as Venezuela’s interim management signaled cautious openness to cooperation amid authorized and worldwide controversy over Maduro’s arrest.

“The whole foreign policy apparatus thinks everything is Libya, everything is Iraq, everything is Afghanistan,” Rubio mentioned. “This is not the Middle East. And our mission here is very different. This is the Western Hemisphere.”

Shweta Sharma5 January 2026 07:00

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/venezuela-trump-maduro-captured-new-york-colombia-live-updates-b2894393.html