Venezuela leaders rally behind Maduro after US capture

Senior officials in Venezuela’s ruling camp have insisted the state remains unified behind President Nicolás Maduro after he was seized by US forces, a move that has deepened uncertainty across the oil-producing country.

According to the report, Maduro is being held in New York and is due in court on drug-related charges. US President Donald Trump said the operation removed Maduro and signaled that Washington would take control of the country, while Venezuelan authorities rejected the action as an abduction and said the government in Caracas continues to function.

Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello urged people to stay calm and dismissed outside “provocations,” while highlighting that the leadership views Maduro as the country’s only president. With Maduro detained, Vice President and Oil Minister Delcy Rodríguez has assumed interim duties with backing from the top court, though she has publicly maintained that Maduro remains the head of state.

Officials have argued the US pressure campaign is ultimately aimed at Venezuela’s natural resources, pointing to Trump’s remarks about US oil companies expanding their role. In the energy sector, state firm PDVSA has reportedly asked some joint ventures to curb production as exports remain disrupted amid tighter maritime enforcement and cargo seizures.

The report also noted a tense but subdued atmosphere in parts of the country, with some businesses operating while residents stocked up on essentials. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington is prepared to work with the existing Venezuelan leadership and emphasized that the US would judge officials by their actions. He also said it was too early to discuss new elections.

The situation has triggered broader international concern, with questions raised about legality and potential precedent, and a UN Security Council discussion expected as global powers react to the escalation.