A defiant Venezuelan presidentNicolas Maduropleaded not guilty todrug traffickingand other charges in aNew Yorkcourt on Monday, two days after beingsnatched by US forcesin a stunning raid on his home in Caracas.
Maduro, 63, told a federal judge in Manhattan "I'm innocent. I'm not guilty."
Smiling ashe entered the courtroomand wearing an orange shirt with beige trousers, Maduro spoke softly.
"I'm president of the Republic ofVenezuelaand I'm here kidnapped since January 3, Saturday," Maduro told the court, speaking in Spanish through an interpreter. "I was captured at my home in Caracas, Venezuela."
But the man who ruled his oil-rich country with an iron fist for more than 12 years got a sharp reminder of his fall when the judge told him to stick to simply stating his name.
Maduro's wife Cilia Flores likewise pleaded not guilty. The judge ordered both to remain behind bars and set a new hearing date of March 17.
The pair were snatched by US commandos in the early hours of Saturday in an assault on the Venezuelan capital backed by warplanes and a heavy naval deployment.
In a series of shock announcements over the weekend, PresidentDonald Trumpdeclared that the United Stateswould now "run" Venezuelawith an eye to rebuilding and controlling its huge but decrepit oil industry.
Amid international alarm,UNSecretary-GeneralAntonio Guterrestold an emergencyUN Security Councilmeeting that there should be "respect for the principles of sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity."
There was sharp criticism Monday fromMexico, where PresidentClaudia Sheinbaumsaid the Americas "do not belong" to anyone, while Colombian PresidentGustavo Petrosaid he was ready to "take up arms" against Trump.
Delcy Rodriguez new leader
With Maduro gone, his former vice president Delcy Rodriguez was sworn in Monday as president.
Read moreMaduro's 'tiger' with designer fashion tastes: Who is Venezuela's VP Delcy Rodriguez?
Trump has said he wants to work with Rodriguez and the rest of Maduro's former teamprovided that they submit to US demandson access to oil. And after an initially defiant posture, Rodriguez said she is ready for "cooperation."
Maduro became president in 2013, taking over from his equally hardline socialist predecessorHugo Chavez.
The United States andEuropean Unionsay he stayed in power by rigging elections and imprisoning opponents, while overseeing rampant corruption.
The crisis after a quarter century of leftist rule now leaves Venezuela's approximately 30 million people facing uncertainty.
Maduro's son, lawmaker Nicolas Maduro Guerra, insisted his father would return "sooner or later." And the newly re-elected head of Venezuela's parliament vowed to explore "all avenues" to get the deposed leader back.
But so far the Trump administration is indicating it wants to work with, not against, the post-Maduro regime.
Trump has also made clear there is no appetite for helping opposition candidates previously seen as the rightful winners of rigged elections to take power.
'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 internationalsanctionsand 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 communistCubawas "ready to fall" and he repeated thatGreenland, which is part of US ally Denmark, should be controlled by the United States.
Read moreWho might be next: Countries in US crosshairs after Venezuela
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.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
Originally published on France24
