Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro arrived in the United States on Saturday, landing at Stewart International Airport in upstate New York, following a swift US military operation that led to his arrest in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas. Photos published by Agence France-Presse (AFP) showed Maduro disembarking from the plane, surrounded by heavy security, before being transported by helicopter to New York City to face trial.
Access details and military operation
According to reports, Maduro's transfer took place under extraordinary security measures. His plane landed at Stewart International Airport, and he was immediately transported by helicopter to a detention center in New York. This move follows a swift and precise military operation carried out by US forces, bringing to an end years of tension and indirect legal proceedings against the Venezuelan president.
Background of the charges: “The Suns Cartel” and drug terrorism
This arrest was not a spur-of-the-moment decision, but rather the culmination of a massive indictment unsealed by the U.S. Department of Justice in March 2020. At that time, the U.S. Attorney General directly accused Maduro and several of his top aides of engaging in “narco-terrorism.” Washington accuses Maduro of leading a criminal organization known as the “Cartel of the Suns,” which allegedly conspired with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels to flood the United States with cocaine. The U.S. government had offered a $15 million reward for information leading to his arrest.
The political context and the Venezuelan crisis
This seismic event comes at a time when Venezuela is experiencing one of the worst economic and political crises in its modern history. Since Maduro took power following the death of Hugo Chávez in 2013, the country has suffered economic collapse and hyperinflation, leading to the emigration of millions of Venezuelans. The political crisis deepened after the 2018 elections, which the United States, the European Union, and most Latin American countries deemed fraudulent, resulting in the non-recognition of his second term and the imposition of crippling economic sanctions on Venezuela’s oil sector.
Expected repercussions locally and internationally
Maduro’s arrest is expected to create a sudden power vacuum in Caracas, raising questions about the reaction of the Venezuelan military, which has historically been loyal to him. Internationally, the arrest could provoke angry reactions from Maduro’s traditional allies, particularly Russia, China, and Cuba, who have long viewed US actions as interference in their internal affairs. Conversely, the Venezuelan opposition may see this as a historic opportunity to restore democracy and rebuild the country after years of international isolation.
