According to a report, u.s. strikes on Venezuela on Saturday have led to the capture of their president Nicolas Maduro and his wife, first lady Cilia Flores who in an unprecedented move were taken to New York’s metropolitan detention centre in Brooklyn to appear in court on Monday evening. Reportedly, though Venezuela has undoubtedly permitted drug trafficking from its airspace and shores, Colombia and Mexico who are bigger players seemed to attract less u.s. military focus.
According to reports, Venezuela owns the largest of the world’s proven oil reserves and regime change could pave the way for the return of major u.s. oil companies such as Exxon Mobile and ConocoPhilips who were expropiated in 2007 when the Venezuelan government nationalised their oil industry, requiring foreign companies to transfer operational control and accept less than 50% ownership in joint ventures with Venezuela’s state oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela.
Reportedly, Mr Maduro’s indictment alleges that he and other top venezuelan officials have for the past two decades worked closely with international drug organisations to ship illicit drugs into the u.s. while enriching themselves, and used illegal weapons, primarily machine guns to carry out the alleged conspiracy. According to the report, Mr Maduro who said he is a prisoner of war has pleaded not guilty and called the charges a tool to further imperial plans for getting access to Venezuela’s rich oil reserves.
Reportedly, u.s. actions are the culmination of an escalating pressure campaign over the past 12 months that has included sanctions and has led to condemnation by many latin american countries. According to the report, Venezuela has denounced u.s. military aggression and announced a state of national emergency, with the country’s vice president who has been sworn in as interim president and other cabinet ministers saying Mr Maduro is Venezuela’s sole legitimate president. Reportedly, the Venezuelan ambassador to the united nations said Venezuela is the victim of these attacks because of its natural resources.