‘I am innocent’: Ousted Venezuela leader Nicolás Maduro pleads not guilty in New York Court

Maduro denies charges after US seizure

Deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro pleaded not guilty to narco-terrorism charges in a New York court on Monday, days after US forces carried out a dramatic operation to seize him from his Caracas residence.

Addressing a federal judge in Manhattan, the 63-year-old said he had been “kidnapped” from Venezuela and insisted, “I’m innocent, I’m not guilty,” according to US media reports. He also told the court, “I’m still the president of my country.”

Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, also entered a not-guilty plea.

US commandos detained the couple in the early hours of Saturday during an operation backed by warplanes and a significant naval presence.

In a series of statements over the weekend, President Donald Trump said the United States was now overseeing Venezuela, with a focus on rebuilding and controlling its vast but deteriorating oil sector.

The operation triggered international concern. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told an emergency UN Security Council meeting there must be “respect for the principles of sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity.”

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum said the Americas “do not belong” to any one country, while Colombian President Gustavo Petro warned he was prepared to “take up arms” against Trump.

Maduro, who took office in 2013 after Hugo Chávez, has been accused by the US and the European Union of manipulating elections, jailing opponents and presiding over widespread corruption.

The end of more than two decades of leftist rule has left Venezuela’s roughly 30 million people facing deep uncertainty.

Supporters rallied in Caracas on Sunday, and lawmakers in parliament chanted “let’s go Nico!” a day later.

For now, the Trump administration has signalled it is willing to work with figures from Maduro’s inner circle if they comply with US demands. Interim president Delcy Rodríguez said on Sunday she was ready for “cooperation,” stepping back from her earlier defiant tone.

Trump has meanwhile indicated there is little interest in backing opposition leaders previously viewed as the legitimate winners of disputed elections.

'Need access to oil'

When asked what he needs from interim leader Rodriguez, Trump said: "We need total access. We need access to the oil and other things in their country that allow us to rebuild their country."

Venezuela has the world's largest proven oil reserves. However the oil is difficult and expensive to produce and after years of international sanctions and mismanagement, the infrastructure is in poor shape.

Shares in US oil majors Chevron, ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips shares surged on Wall Street early Monday.

Trump, who has shocked many Americans with his unprecedented moves to accumulate domestic power, also now appears increasingly emboldened in foreign policy.

On Sunday, he said communist Cuba was "ready to fall" and he repeated that Greenland, which is part of US ally Denmark, should be controlled by the United States.

He has lashed out at Colombia's Petro, saying he should "watch his ass."

Although there are no known US troops in Venezuela now, the Trump administration says it retains powerful economic leverage through an oil blockade. Trump has also threatened additional military attacks.

A huge US naval presence, including an aircraft carrier, is deployed in the Caribbean.

Details of the US operation in Caracas were still emerging Monday, with Havana saying 32 Cubans were killed in the attack. No US service members were killed but some were wounded, according to US officials.

Protesting outside the New York court, leftist activist Sydney Loving, 31, said she stood "with the people of Venezuela."

"We say no to US wars. We say no to US intervention. It's not in our benefit. It does not make the US safer, it makes it makes the people on Wall Street richer," she told AFP.

However, Angel Montero, who moved to the United States from Venezuela, described the downfall of Maduro as "the best gift I ever received."

"I'm going to thank Donald Trump," Montero, 36, said.

(With AFP inputs)