US President Donald Trump has announced that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is expected to appear in a US court on Monday following his capture by American forces over the weekend.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump hinted at the possibility of further military action if his administration’s demands are not met by Venezuela’s interim leadership. He said the United States could launch additional strikes to ensure cooperation in reopening the country’s oil sector and curbing drug trafficking.
Trump did not limit his warnings to Venezuela. He also threatened potential military intervention in Colombia and Mexico, while suggesting that Cuba’s communist regime “looks like it’s ready to fall” independently.
The detention of Maduro occurred during a military operation in Caracas on Saturday, an action that has sparked international concern and heightened uncertainty in Venezuela. US officials have described the raid as a law-enforcement measure aimed at holding Maduro accountable for criminal charges dating back to 2020, which allege involvement in a narco-terrorism conspiracy.
However, Trump offered broader reasoning for the incursion, citing an influx of Venezuelan migrants to the United States and historic grievances over the nationalisation of US oil assets in Venezuela. “We’re taking back what they stole. We’re in charge,” he asserted.
