China says US should immediately release Maduro:North Korea backs Venezuela, accuses Washington of ‘hooliganism’
The picture is from New York’s Stewart Air National Guard Base. Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro is seen wearing a blue jacket
China and North Korea have strongly criticised the United States over its action against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, calling for his immediate release.
China said on Sunday that the US should immediately release President Maduro and his wife, Celia Flores, who are currently in US custody.
According to Chinese authorities, Maduro was taken to the United States by the US military from Venezuela’s capital, Caracas.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said it was wrong to take another country’s president in this manner and stressed that the issue should be resolved through dialogue.
North Korea also condemned the US move, describing it as “hooliganism” The North Korean Foreign Ministry said the action amounted to a serious attack on the independence and sovereignty of a sovereign nation.
According to reports, US troops carried out an operation in Venezuela on the night of January 2, detaining President Maduro and his wife and transporting them to New York.
They are reportedly being held at a detention facility and are expected to face prosecution in cases related to arms and drugs.
Also Read: How US captured Venezuela’s President along with his wife
Also Read : How Venezuela’s president rose to power; accused of 3 deadly attacks on America, now in US custody
6 pictures of President Maduro after being captured…
US President Trump posted a picture of Maduro on social media. In the photo, Maduro is wearing a grey Nike tracksuit. He is holding a water bottle in his hand, which is in handcuffs. His eyes are covered with a black strip, and he is wearing headphones.
This is a picture of Maduro after being taken into US custody. He was placed on the USS Iwo Jima warship.
In the picture, Maduro can be seen with US officials. At one point, he is seen giving a thumbs-up.
Maduro was brought to the Stuart Air National Guard Base in New York City.
At the Stuart Air National Guard Base in New York, Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were seen together.
Maduro appeared in US custody in Manhattan. During this, he even wished the officials a Happy New Year.
To read updates about the Venezuela coup, go through the live blog below…
Updates
10:35 PM4 January 2026
Rubio says US mission in Venezuela ‘very different’, signals willingness to work with new leadership
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday said Washington is prepared to work with Venezuela’s remaining leadership if they make “the right decision,” stressing that the US mission in the country is “very different” from past interventions in the Middle East.
Speaking to CBS News, Rubio said the United States would judge Venezuela’s leaders by their actions going forward.
He warned that if they fail to take the “right decision,” Washington would retain “multiple levers of leverage.”
Rubio’s comments came a day after US commandos detained President Nicolás Maduro during a large-scale military operation in Caracas involving fighter jets, helicopters, warships and ground troops.
While President Donald Trump has said the US would “run” Venezuela and did not rule out deploying troops on the ground, Rubio appeared to soften that stance.
He said Washington is ready to engage with Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who is now acting president, and other members of the former government.
“We’re going to make an assessment on the basis of what they do moving forward, not what they say publicly or what they’ve done in the past,” Rubio said.
Rubio said the US wants to avoid getting drawn into nation-building efforts, contrasting the situation in Venezuela with previous US interventions.
“This is not the Middle East, and our mission here is very different,” he said.
He added that US pressure on Venezuela would continue through a strong naval presence in the Caribbean and an oil export embargo, which he said gives Washington significant leverage over future developments.
10:33 PM4 January 2026
Colombia readies for possible refugee influx as uncertainty grows in Venezuela
Colombia is preparing for a potential influx of refugees amid growing uncertainty in Venezuela, with authorities tightening security along the two countries’ shared border.
President Gustavo Petro, who has been ideologically close to Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, has in recent days publicly distanced himself from him, describing Maduro as a dictator, a term he had previously avoided.
The shift comes despite close cooperation between the two neighbours in recent years, particularly on border management.
Colombia and Venezuela share a long and porous forest border stretching over 2,000 kilometres, an area where several armed groups operate, including the National Liberation Army (ELN).
The ELN, active since the 1960s, has been engaged in peace talks with the Colombian government, though negotiations have made limited progress.
In response to the evolving situation, the Colombian government has announced the deployment of around 30,000 troops to the border to strengthen security.
Authorities have expressed particular concern about areas north of the border where coca, the key raw material for cocaine, is widely cultivated.
10:21 PM4 January 2026
US action in Venezuela will bring benefits, unlike Iraq war: Defence Secretary
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Sunday said the American action in Venezuela was fundamentally different from past military interventions such as the 2003 Iraq war and would bring direct benefits to the United States.
Speaking to the media, Hegseth said the operation was designed to avoid a prolonged conflict and posed no threat to the lives of American troops.
He stressed that the planning ensured US soldiers were not put in harm’s way.
The Defence Secretary said the move would benefit the US financially, contrasting it with the Iraq war, which he said resulted in heavy losses for Washington.
He added that the decision to arrest Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was not taken hastily but followed thorough planning.
Hegseth also said President Donald Trump has altered previous strategies to achieve US objectives without shedding American blood, while ensuring tangible benefits for the country.
10:20 PM4 January 2026
Heavy security, crowds gather outside Brooklyn jail holding Maduro
According to Fox News, Heavy security was deployed outside Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center after large crowds gathered near the facility where Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is being held.
Police were seen pushing through the crowds as they worked to disperse protesters and maintain order amid rising tensions around the detention centre.
10:07 PM4 January 2026
Brooklyn jail holding Maduro has history of high-profile inmates
The Brooklyn detention facility where Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is being held is known for its troubled reputation and has previously housed several high-profile inmates, according to the Associated Press.
The Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC Brooklyn), opened in the early 1990s, currently holds around 1,300 inmates.
Despite concerns that have led some judges to avoid sending defendants there, the facility has in the past detained prominent figures, including music stars R. Kelly and Sean “Diddy” Combs.
10:00 PM4 January 2026
Calm prevails in Caracas after Maduro’s capture
A tense calm prevailed across Venezuela on Sunday, a day after President Nicolás Maduro was ousted and captured in a US military operation.
The capital, Caracas, remained largely quiet, with sparse traffic on the streets and most convenience stores, petrol stations and other businesses closed, according to the Associated Press.
09:58 PM4 January 2026
US not at war with Venezuela, action aimed at drug trafficking groups: Rubio
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday said the United States is not fighting a war against Venezuela, but is targeting drug trafficking organisations operating from the country.
Speaking to the media, Rubio said Washington wants Venezuela’s oil wealth to benefit the Venezuelan people rather than a “select few”.
He rejected suggestions that the US is seeking to run Venezuela, saying instead that it is attempting to steer the situation in the “right direction” while retaining the ability to exert pressure.
On the legal basis of the US actions, Rubio said they were backed by court orders, adding that courts are legitimate legal institutions.
Responding to questions on whether interim President Delcy Rodríguez is recognised by the US as Venezuela’s legitimate leader, Rubio said that no government in Venezuela is currently fully legal.
Rubio also warned that oil tankers banned from travelling to or from Venezuela under US court orders would be seized en route.
09:33 PM4 January 2026
Venezuelan VP demands immediate release of Maduro
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez on Sunday called on the United States to immediately release President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, asserting that Maduro is Venezuela’s legitimate and only president.
Speaking during a meeting of the National Defence Council, which was broadcast live on state television channel VTV, Rodríguez said it was completely wrong to detain the president forcibly.
She and other senior government officials described the arrest of Maduro and his wife as an act of kidnapping.
09:30 PM4 January 2026
US warns Venezuela leaders to take ‘right decision’, says Rubio
The United States is prepared to work with Venezuela’s remaining leadership if they take “the right decision”, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday, following the surprise US operation that removed President Nicolás Maduro.
Speaking to CBS News’ Face the Nation, Rubio said Washington would assess the situation based on the actions of Venezuela’s current leaders.
“We’re going to judge everything by what they do, and we’re going to see what they do,” he said.
Rubio added that if Venezuela’s leaders fail to make the “right decision”, the United States would retain “multiple levers of leverage” to respond.
09:28 PM4 January 2026
Japan stresses need to restore democracy in Venezuela, says PM Takaichi
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Sunday reiterated that the Japanese government has consistently stated the importance of restoring democracy in Venezuela at the earliest possible time.
Speaking on the ongoing situation in the South American nation, Takaichi highlighted Japan’s commitment to supporting democratic governance and stability in Venezuela, according to ANI.
09:13 PM4 January 2026
Rubio speaks to the media
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is speaking to US media outlets.
09:05 PM4 January 2026
Timeline | From Maduro’s rise to his capture by the US
2013: Nicolás Maduro, once a bus driver and union leader, becomes Venezuela’s president after the death of Hugo Chávez.
2020: The US charges Maduro and 14 associates with narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, money laundering, and corruption, offering $15m (£12.5m) for information leading to his arrest.
2024: Maduro is declared the winner of the presidential election, despite opposition tallies showing Edmundo González won by a landslide.
January 2025: The US doubles its reward for information on Maduro to $25m (£20.4m), and in August raises it again to $50m (£37.2m).
February 2025: Donald Trump claims Venezuela has agreed to take back migrants who came irregularly to the US.
September 2025: The US targets drug-smuggling boats in the Pacific and Caribbean; more than 100 people are killed in strikes between September and December.
October 2025: Trump authorises CIA covert operations inside Venezuela. Maduro addresses Americans on TV, urging “no war, yes peace.”
January 2026: The US strikes Venezuela and captures Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. They are flown to a New York detention centre and charged with weapons and drug offences. Maduro has consistently denied leading a drug cartel.
08:33 PM4 January 2026
Spanish PM ‘strongly condemns’ violation of international law
Spain has condemned what it called a violation of international law in Venezuela, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wrote in a letter sent to members of his Socialist Party after US President Donald Trump’s raid to abduct Nicolas Maduro.
Sanchez’s letter described the “violation of international law in Venezuela, an act that we strongly condemn”, comments that went further than his remarks on Saturday in which he said he would not recognise the US intervention.
08:17 PM4 January 2026
Vice President, Delcy Rodriguez sworn in as Interim President
Shortly after Maduro’s abduction, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, 56, was sworn in as interim president. Trump said Rodriguez had talked to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and was “essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again”.
However, Rodriguez’s remarks soon after the strikes and abduction were diametrical: She criticised the US military action as “brutal aggression” and called for Maduro’s immediate release. “There is only one president in this country, and his name is Nicolas Maduro,” Rodriguez said defiantly on state television as she was flanked by top civilian officials and military commanders.
08:12 PM4 January 2026
Several homes damaged in US attack
A residential building in the Venezuelan city of La Guaira was badly damaged in US strikes, with debris scattered around the site after the blast.
La Guaira, Venezuela’s main port city, lies close to the capital Caracas and was also targeted during the US operation.
07:58 PM4 January 2026
UNGA president Annalena Baerbock on Venezuela crisis
UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock said the UN Charter is not optional while commenting on the Venezuela crisis.
07:53 PM4 January 2026
A year of rising US-Venezuela tensions
The relationship deteriorated sharply after Maduro was sworn in as president for a third term a year ago, following what the US and its allies called a fraudulent election.
Since then, the US has expanded its sanctions against Venezuela and conducted military operations against its vessels that Washington says are engaged in drug trafficking and sanctions busting. It eventually toppled and abducted Maduro.
07:42 PM4 January 2026
Netanyahu says Israel backs firm US action against Venezuela
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel supports the United States’ “strong action” in Venezuela.
“Regarding Venezuela, I wish to express the support of the entire government for the resolute decision and strong action of the United States to restore freedom and justice to that region of the world,” Netanyahu said at the opening of a cabinet meeting, a day after US forces abducted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
07:33 PM4 January 2026
Finland’s president calls Maduro government ‘illegitimate’, stresses international law
Finland’s President Alexander Stubb on Sunday described Venezuela’s government under Nicolás Maduro as “long illegitimate,” calling the country’s 2024 elections “grossly unfair”.
In a statement, Stubb noted that Finland has previously taken this position as part of the European Union, which has imposed sanctions on Venezuela.
He stated that all states have a responsibility to respect and comply with international law, calling it a cornerstone of Finland’s foreign policy and vital to its national interests.
Stubb added that it is now crucial to support a transition to a democratic government in Venezuela, and said Finland is closely monitoring developments in the country.
Venezuela updates: Maduro pleads not guilty at NYC court
Richard Connor | Farah Bahgat with AP, AFP, ReutersPublished 01/05/2026Published January 5, 2026last updated 15 hours agolast updated 15 hours ago
The captured Venezuelan president has appeared in a New York court on narco-terrorism charges, pleading not guilty. while the UN Security Council convenes after the US attack.
Skip next section What you need to know
What you need to know
- Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro pleads not guilty at US federal court in New York
- UN Security Council meets to discuss US attack on Venezuela
- Germany says US has not yet explained its actions in Venezuela to international community
These updates are now closed. Click herefor the latest coverage of Venezuela.Skip next section Thank you for reading
15 hours ago15 hours ago
Thank you for reading
We’ve now moved to a new blog, covering the latest as questions mount over next steps in Venezuela.
Copy linkSkip next section Oil prices rise after US move on Venezuela
17 hours ago17 hours ago
Oil prices rise after US move on Venezuela
Oil prices have finished higher on a strong day for global equities after the US capture of Venezuela’s president fueled speculation about future crude supplies.
The upheaval in Venezuela also sparked a rally in energy stocks, helping lift US markets after London’s FTSE 100 earlier closed at a record high.
Energy multinational Chevron surged more than 5%, pushing the Dow Jones Industrial Average up 1.2% to a fresh all-time high of 48,977.8. The broader S&P 500 and the Nasdaq also ended the session solidly higher.
Oil services group Halliburton jumped 7.8%, while producers ConocoPhillips and ExxonMobil also advanced.
Defense stocks gained ground as well, alongside several major technology companies in focus at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Oil prices have swung sharply as markets digested the weekend’s dramatic events.
Prices initially jumped after the military operation to seize Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, then fell on speculation Venezuela could quickly boost output.
Venezuela holds about a fifth of the world’s oil reserves, raising talk it could add supply to an already glutted market.
Prices later recovered as investors concluded the country is not in a position to materially increase oil production in the short term.
Trump’s Venezuela oil gambit: Constraints and global impact
Copy linkSkip next section Maduro’s son warns capture sets global precedent
20 hours ago20 hours ago
Maduro’s son warns capture sets global precedent
The son of Nicolas Maduro has warned that his father’s capture by the United States risks setting a dangerous international precedent.
Speaking before Venezuela‘s parliament on Monday, lawmaker Nicolas Maduro Guerra accused the Trump administration of undermining global stability and demanded that his parents be returned by US authorities.
The speech marked his first public appearance since Saturday’s escalation and came as Washington has stepped up pressure on Venezuela’s leadership to align with its plans for the oil-rich country.
Maduro Guerra, known as “Nicolasito,” also called for international backing and condemned his inclusion as a co-conspirator in the New York indictment of his parents.
“If we normalize the kidnapping of a head of state, no country is safe. Today it’s Venezuela. Tomorrow it could be any nation that refuses to submit. This is not a regional problem. It is a direct threat to global political stability,” he said.
Copy linkSkip next section Delcy Rodriguez sworn in as acting president of Venezuela
21 hours ago21 hours ago
Delcy Rodriguez sworn in as acting president of Venezuela
Delcy Rodriguez has been sworn in as Venezuela’s acting president following the capture of Nicolas Maduro and his wife by the United States in a military operation.
Speaking during her oath on Monday, Rodriguez said, “I come with pain over the kidnapping of two heroes who are being held hostage in the United States. I also come with honor to swear in on behalf of all Venezuelans.”
Rodriguez had served as Maduro’s vice president and was next in the line of succession. Venezuela’s supreme court ordered her to assume the role for 90 days, with the mandate subject to extension.
