U.S. Captures Maduro, Charges Him with Narcoterrorism

United States forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in a military operation at their residence on a military base in Caracas over the weekend, leading to Maduro's removal from power and his arraignment on Monday in a New York courtroom near United Nations headquarters. The couple now faces federal charges in the United States for allegedly participating in a narcoterrorism conspiracy tied to drug cartels operating from Venezuela.

The operation stemmed from a U.S. administration declaration in October that Venezuelan drug cartels qualify as unlawful combatants, placing the United States in an armed conflict with them. Officials described the mission as a targeted law enforcement action, aligning with President Donald Trump's National Security Strategy, released last month. That document prioritizes restoring American influence in the Western Hemisphere during Trump's second term. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz called the capture a justified surgical operation, emphasizing Maduro's lack of political legitimacy.

Trump defended the action as legal during remarks to reporters. On Sunday, while returning to Washington from...