One Month After Nicolás Maduro's Capture in US Military Operation in Venezuela

The Capture Operation

• 🎯 Nicolás Maduro's capture occurred one month ago, following a six-month planning period initiated by Trump due to Maduro's opposition to US plans for Venezuela.
• 🚀 The "Operation Absolute Resolution" was executed on January 3rd, starting with a massive bombardment by 150 aircraft targeting radars, bases, and ports, alongside a cyberattack that caused a blackout in Caracas.
• 🕵️‍♂️ US Delta Force commands, who had trained on a full-scale model, infiltrated Fuerte Tiuna to capture Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, transporting them via the USS Iwo Jima and Guantanamo to New York.
• ⚠️ According to Trump, the operation resulted in no US casualties, but Venezuelan authorities reported the deaths of 47 Venezuelan soldiers, 32 Cubans, the presidential guard, and four civilians.

Maduro's Detention and Legal Challenges

• 🔒 Nicolás Maduro and his wife are currently detained in a high-security Brooklyn jail, where he faces a very restrictive regime, spending 23 hours a day in his cell with communication limited to his lawyers.
• ⚖️ He is accused of four charges: narcoterrorism, cocaine importation, and two weapons-related offenses.
• 🗓️ His next court appearance is set for March 17th, though the prosecution has requested a delay to March 26th for logistical reasons and evidence exchange.
• 🧩 The legal process is complex, involving a double legal challenge concerning his immunity as a head of state and the legality of his capture and extradition to the United States.

New Leadership and US-Venezuela Relations

• 🤝 Venezuela is now led by Delcy Rodríguez as the "interim president," a new leadership backed by Washington, which is actively tutoring the Venezuelan government's decisions.
• 📈 After seven years, Venezuela and the United States are resuming diplomatic relations, with Rodríguez receiving the US Chargé d'Affaires Laura Dogu and appointing a new Venezuelan diplomatic representative in Washington.
• 🌱 Delcy Rodríguez has announced a potential amnesty law that could benefit dozens of political prisoners since 1999, though this point has not yet appeared on the National Assembly's agenda.
• 💬 Venezuelans are observing these changes with cautious optimism, while the prospect of free elections in the country remains distant.