Johnson Progress.

Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is scheduled to appear in a New York courtroom today, facing serious drug trafficking and weapons charges, while his political successor prepares to assume power in Caracas under a stark warning from the United States.

The developments follow a dramatic U.S. military operation over the weekend that resulted in Maduro’s capture and extradition.

Maduro, who led Venezuela since 2013 and is widely accused by opponents and foreign governments of illegitimately retaining power, was captured along with his wife, Cilia Flores, during a special forces raid on their compound early Saturday.

U.S. officials have labeled his government a “narco-terrorist” regime, allegations Maduro has consistently denied, framing U.S. actions as a pretext to seize Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.

As Maduro awaits his court appearance, his former vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, backed by Venezuela’s Supreme Court and military, is set to be sworn in as the new president.

In her first cabinet meeting, Rodríguez adopted a notably conciliatory tone toward the United States.

She explicitly offered an agenda of cooperation, stating, “We invite the U.S. government to collaborate with us on an agenda of co-operation orientated towards shared development within the framework of international law.”

However, this overture was met with immediate and severe caution from U.S. President Donald Trump.

In an interview, Trump issued a direct threat to the incoming leader.

He warned that Rodríguez could face severe consequences if she does not align with U.S. interests, asserting, “If she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro.”

Trump further justified the push for political change in the country, arguing, “Regime change, anything you want to call it, is better than what you have right now. Can’t get any worse.”

The U.S. operation, which involved air strikes and ground forces, has ignited a fierce debate over its legality and scale.

While U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted the action was a targeted law enforcement mission against drug trafficking networks, not an act of war against Venezuela, several prominent U.S. Democratic lawmakers have vehemently disagreed.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries condemned the secretive operation, declaring, “It was an act of war.”

He detailed the scale of the involvement, noting it included elite units, thousands of troops, and significant air and naval assets.

The fallout from the operation extends beyond Venezuela’s borders.

The Cuban government, a key socialist ally of Maduro, announced two days of national mourning, claiming 32 Cuban personnel died during the capture.

Furthermore, Trump escalated regional tensions by threatening military action against neighboring Colombia, whose president he disparaged as “a sick man” involved in the drug trade.

International reaction has been one of profound concern.

A joint statement from the governments of Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay, and Spain criticized the U.S. military actions, warning they “constitute an extremely dangerous precedent for peace and regional security and endanger the civilian population.”

As Rodríguez assumes the presidency and Maduro faces justice in New York, Venezuela remains at the center of a volatile geopolitical crisis with escalating rhetoric and uncertain consequences.