US President Donald Trump said on January 4 (US time) that Washington could launch a second military offensive against Venezuela, after the US arrested President Nicolas Maduro, if the remaining members of the Caracas administration do not cooperate with US efforts to "correct" this country.
Speaking on Air Force One, Mr. Trump raised the possibility that the US would continue military intervention in Latin America, and warned that Colombia and Mexico could also face similar actions if drug flows into the US are not reduced.
Mr. Trump believes that his administration will work with the remaining members of Mr. Maduro's apparatus to suppress drug trafficking and reform the oil industry, instead of immediately promoting elections to form a new government.
Mr. Nicolas Maduro is currently detained in New York and awaiting trial on drug-related charges. The arrest has created deep uncertainty about the future of this oil-rich nation.
Venezuela condemned the arrest of Mr. Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores as kidnapping. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello affirmed that there is only one legitimate president of the country, Mr. Nicolas Maduro, calling on the people not to fall into provocative traps.
Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino declared that the US attack killed soldiers, civilians and most of the presidential protection forces, and said that the Venezuelan army had been activated to ensure sovereignty.
The Cuban government said 32 of its citizens were killed in the campaign.
Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, who is also the Minister of Oil, is backed by the Venezuelan Supreme Court to hold a temporary leadership role and emphasized that Mr. Maduro is still the president.
Ms. Rodriguez publicly rejected Mr. Trump's statement that she is willing to cooperate with the US. Mr. Trump warned that Ms. Rodriguez could pay a higher price if she "does not do the right thing".
The US administration described Maduro's arrest as an enforcement campaign to force him to face criminal charges since 2020.
However, Mr. Trump also emphasized that the US needs "comprehensive access" to Venezuela's huge oil reserves, and said that the wave of migrants from this country to the US is an important factor leading to the decision to act. Caracas accused Washington of trying to seize resources, especially oil.
In Venezuela, government-supporting marches took place while the general atmosphere remained tense.
On the international stage, many countries question the legality of the US arrest of foreign heads of state.
On January 5, the United Nations Security Council is scheduled to discuss the incident, as Russia and China have strongly criticized Washington's actions.
