Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is set to appear in a US court in New York this week to face narco‑terrorism and drug trafficking charges, after a dramatic U.S. military strike in Venezuela that shook global politics and raised alarm across Latin America and beyond.
President Donald Trump defended the unprecedented military action as a “law enforcement operation” targeting long‑standing criminal networks tied to Maduro’s government, but critics argue it represents a dangerous expansion of U.S. force and influence. Trump warned that further strikes could occur if other nations, including Colombia and Mexico, do not cooperate in combating illicit drug flows, signaling that the U.S. may broaden its overseas military posture.
Since Maduro’s capture and transfer to the United States, international responses have been swift and often critical. Brazil publicly condemned the U.S. action as crossing an “unacceptable line,” and multiple Latin American governments warned that unilateral military intervention undermines regional sovereignty. China and Russia also denounced the strikes, calling them violations of international law and threats to regional security.
Amid this geopolitical turbulence, voices from civil society and regional politics have strongly opposed what they describe as U.S. aggression. In a related reaction to U.S. operations in Venezuela, Canadian politician Zohran Mamdani condemned the military action and highlighted its dangerous implications for democratic norms and respect for sovereignty.
Domestically in Venezuela, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has been named acting president, rejecting cooperation with Trump’s administration and asserting Maduro’s leadership remains legitimate. As the world watches, Maduro’s US court appearance will test longstanding legal and diplomatic norms, potentially reshaping global responses to state sovereignty and anti‑drug enforcement.
