Maduro Enters Not Guilty Plea in US Court Amid Global Backlash Over Trump’s Venezuela Intervention

Nicolás Maduro, the ousted leader of Venezuela, appeared in a Manhattan federal court on Monday and pleaded not guilty to charges of narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and weapons possession, just 48 hours after U.S. special forces seized him and his wife, Cilia Flores, in a daring raid authorized by President Donald Trump.

The 63-year-old Maduro told Judge Alvin Hellerstein that he remained the legitimate president of Venezuela, describing his removal from his Caracas residence as an unlawful abduction and himself as a prisoner of war. The brief 30-minute arraignment underscored the profound international repercussions of the U.S. operation, which has drawn sharp criticism worldwide.

As Maduro faced the court in New York, the United Nations Security Council convened an emergency session nearby, where more than a dozen nations labeled the action a “crime of aggression.” UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed concerns that it may violate international law.

The indictment, released by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, accuses Maduro of collaborating with violent drug traffickers to flood the United States with cocaine, aligning with Trump’s rationale that the intervention was essential to combat drug inflows. However, Trump has also cited the need to recover what he calls “stolen” Venezuelan oil, stating that the U.S. would oversee the country temporarily as American firms assume control of its vast reserves.

Historians and analysts have described the move as a resurgence of U.S. imperialism in Latin America, with fears it could foreshadow similar actions against nations like Colombia, Cuba, or Iran. Temple University professor Alan McPherson told The Guardian that it evokes “naked imperialism” reminiscent of past U.S. interventions.

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Protests erupted outside the courthouse in freezing conditions, with demonstrators both condemning and supporting the charges against Maduro. Meanwhile, related developments included Greenland’s prime minister rejecting Trump’s renewed annexation threats, and the Trump administration announcing cuts to childhood vaccine recommendations under Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The operation has intensified regional tensions, with countries including Brazil, China, Russia, and Mexico denouncing it at the UN. In Caracas, interim leadership transitions proceed amid uncertainty over Venezuela’s future governance.