Ousted leader Nicolas Maduro has claimed he is innocent and still the legitimate president of Venezuela despite being indicted in a US federal drug trafficking case, Al Jazeera reported on Monday (January 5) as he appeared in a Manhattan court in New York.
Maduro said in court that he was an innocent man and constitutionally still the president of Venezuela. His wife, Celia Flores, also pleaded not guilty to drug-related charges in the same case. Judge Alvin Hellerstein set their next appearance for March 17.
Earlier on Saturday, Maduro was arrested in Venezuela and brought to New York in a surprise operation by US forces. During the operation, major military strikes were carried out in various parts of the country.
Meanwhile, Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, has called for a “balanced and respectful” relationship with the United States. However, US President Donald Trump has claimed that Venezuela is now completely under US control.
Trump’s tough stance on Venezuela and its neighbors has included threats of military action against Colombian President Gustavo Petro, which Colombia has rejected as “illegal.” Trump has also issued a warning to Mexico.
The US military intervention in Venezuela and the arrest of Maduro have sparked a global outcry, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calling the incident a “dangerous precedent”.