§  Trump warns Venezuela’s new leader Delcy Rodríguez she could ‘pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro’ if she ‘doesn’t do what’s right’

§  Trump warns Venezuela’s Delcy Rodriguez to ‘pay very big price’ if she doesn’t cooperate

§  Maduro faces NYC court Monday on narco-terrorism charges. Full coverage

United States: On Sunday, as Venezuela’s newly appointed leader Delcy Rodriguez took office, U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a stark warning that reverberated across Latin America. Speaking to reporters and The Atlantic magazine, Trump declared that Rodriguez would “pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro” if she failed to “do what’s right.” The warning came just hours before the ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro was set to make his first court appearance in a Manhattan federal courtroom, facing serious charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy and drug trafficking.

This dramatic confrontation marks a critical moment in U.S.-Venezuela relations and underscores Trump’s aggressive posture toward the South American nation following the controversial military operation that captured Maduro on Saturday. The situation has escalated beyond Venezuela’s borders, with Trump also threatening military action against neighboring Colombia and Mexico, signaling a broader regional power shift.

THE ULTIMATUM: What Trump Actually Demanded

Trump’s warning to Rodriguez was deliberately vague yet menacing. When pressed by reporters aboard Air Force One at his West Palm Beach golf course, the president refused to specify what actions he expected from the new Venezuelan leader. Instead, he issued a cryptic but unmistakable threat: “If she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro.”

When asked to clarify his statement, Trump doubled down, suggesting Rodriguez would face consequences “because, you know, Maduro gave up immediately.” The implication was clear—unlike the captured former president, Trump expected Rodriguez to immediately capitulate to U.S. demands without any negotiation or resistance.

The Trump administration’s broader agenda became apparent through additional statements. Trump declared that the United States needs “total access” to Venezuela’s resources, particularly its oil reserves. “We need total access. We need access to the oil and to other things in their country that allow us to rebuild their country,” Trump stated explicitly.

This represents an extraordinarily explicit demand for control over a sovereign nation’s natural resources—a demand that would have been considered diplomatic overreach even during the Cold War era. Yet Trump made the statement without apparent concern for international law or diplomatic protocol.

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RODRIGUEZ’S RESPONSE: A DELICATE BALANCING ACT

Delcy Rodriguez, who served as Maduro’s vice president and oil minister, found herself in an impossible position. Upon assuming office Sunday night, she was simultaneously facing pressure from two directions: an incoming Trump administration threatening military intervention and a domestic constituency that has survived nearly two decades of socialist governance.

Rodriguez’s initial response attempted to walk a tightrope. In carefully worded statements, she expressed openness to cooperation with the United States while simultaneously defending Venezuela’s sovereignty. In an Instagram message, she stated: “We invite the US government to collaborate with us on an agenda of cooperation oriented towards shared development within the framework of international law.”

However, her tone contrasted sharply with her actions. According to government announcements, Rodriguez insisted that Venezuela would defend its natural resources and sovereign rights. This contradiction—offering cooperation while asserting independence—reflected the genuine dilemma facing any Venezuelan leader attempting to govern in the aftermath of Maduro’s capture.

Notably, Rodriguez and her government maintained that Maduro remained Venezuela’s legitimate president, directly contradicting Trump’s claims about her authority and willingness to cooperate. This defiant stance suggested that despite public diplomatic language, the Venezuelan government had no intention of surrendering its oil resources or accepting American control.

THE HISTORIC COURT APPEARANCE: Maduro’s Day of Reckoning

While Trump issued threats to Rodriguez, Maduro faced a more immediate crisis: his first appearance in a U.S. federal court on Monday, January 5, 2026, at noon in Manhattan. The ousted Venezuelan president was being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, a facility known for holding high-profile federal defendants awaiting trial.

Maduro’s indictment covers multiple serious charges. Federal prosecutors allege he directed cocaine trafficking operations, worked with major drug cartels including the Sinaloa Cartel and the Tren de Aragua gang, used the Venezuelan military to protect drug shipments and sheltered violent trafficking organizations. Additionally, prosecutors claim he used presidential facilities to move illegal drugs.

The charges against Maduro had been filed in 2020 during Trump’s first term, with a $50 million bounty on his head. However, the indictment was unsealed and updated on Saturday following his capture. His wife, Cilia Flores, was also charged with conspiracy to import cocaine and ordering kidnappings and murders.

Legal experts expressed skepticism about Maduro receiving bail. Victor Verdecia, a Venezuelan attorney and president of Venezolanos Unidos, stated: “Usually the defense team might have an excuse to make this process long. But at this time I believe the U.S. justice system has all proof. I believe Maduro is unlikely to receive bond and I do not expect prosecutors to offer a plea deal given the severity of the charges.”

The arraignment was expected to mark the beginning of what could become “one of the most consequential international criminal cases in U.S. history,” according to legal analysts. Maduro’s legal team faced an uphill battle, with the U.S. government claiming possession of substantial evidence supporting the narco-terrorism allegations.

EXPANDING THREATS: Colombia and Mexico in Trump’s Crosshairs

Trump’s aggression toward Venezuela did not stop with warnings to Rodriguez. On Sunday, he extended his threats to neighboring Colombia, targeting that nation’s president Gustavo Petro. Trump labeled Petro a “sick man” who “likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States and he’s not going to be doing it very long.”

The Trump-Petro relationship has been deteriorating for months. In October 2025, Trump had already called Petro an “illegal drug leader,” revoked his visa, ended U.S. aid to Colombia and imposed tariffs on Colombian imports. These actions followed Petro’s accusation that U.S. forces had killed Colombian citizens during military operations targeting suspected drug boats.

Now, Trump refused to rule out military action against Colombia. When reporters asked if he would consider military strikes on Colombian territory, Trump responded: “It sounds good to me.” This statement represented an explicit threat of unilateral military action against a historically close U.S. ally, without any mention of congressional approval or international authorization.

Trump also warned Mexico, directing the nation to “get its act together,” implying that failure to comply with undefined U.S. demands could result in similar military intervention.

These expanding threats indicated that Trump viewed the Venezuela operation as a model for hemispheric domination. The message to Latin American leaders was unmistakable: cooperate with the United States or face military consequences.

INTERNATIONAL OUTRAGE: Legal Questions and Democratic Opposition

The military operation that captured Maduro provoked significant international criticism and raised serious questions about international law. Several Latin American governments expressed alarm at the precedent being set.

The governments of Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay and Spain issued a joint statement characterizing the U.S. military actions as “an extremely dangerous precedent for peace and regional security” that “endangers the civilian population.”

Cuba announced two days of national mourning after the Trump administration acknowledged that U.S. military strikes had killed “32 brave Cuban combatants.” Cuba’s government described the operation as “a criminal assault against our America” and “an intolerable violation of international law.”

Within the United States itself, Democratic lawmakers expressed serious concerns. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries characterized the operation as an “act of war,” noting that it involved Delta Force, the U.S. Army, thousands of troops, at least 150 military aircraft and dozens of ships off Venezuela’s coast.

Jim Himes, the most senior Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, reported having received “zero outreach” from the Trump administration prior to the operation and stated he was aware of no Democrat who had been briefed beforehand.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer questioned the legality of the operation, stating: “While Maduro is a horrible person, you don’t treat lawlessness with other lawlessness. We have learned through the years when America tries to do regime change and nation building in this way, the American people pay the price in both blood and in dollars.”

Both Schumer and Jeffries pledged to support a resolution that would prohibit Trump from taking further military action in Venezuela without congressional approval.

International law experts also raised concerns. Ilan Katz, an expert in international law, stated: “There are numerous international legal principles that the United States may have contravened by capturing Maduro.” The operation raised fundamental questions about U.S. compliance with international treaties, the sovereignty of nations and the proper procedures for law enforcement across borders.

TRUMP’S RATIONALE: The “Trump Corollary” to the Monroe Doctrine

To understand Trump’s aggressive posture toward Venezuela, one must examine his stated strategic vision for the Western Hemisphere. Trump has explicitly promoted what his administration calls the “Trump Corollary” to the Monroe Doctrine—a 19th-century policy warning European powers against interference in the Americas.

However, Trump’s version inverts this principle. Rather than warning external powers away from the region, Trump’s doctrine asserts American hegemony and willingness to use military force to secure U.S. interests. As one analyst noted: “This appears to be a regime change strategy supported by military might. Trump is now claiming that the US will assert itself as the dominant power in the Western Hemisphere, ready to employ force when necessary to safeguard American interests.”

This vision was made explicit in Trump’s remarks to The Atlantic: “You know, rebuilding there and regime change, anything you want to call it, is better than what you have right now. Can’t get any worse.” He also promised that American oil companies would move into Venezuela to “fix infrastructure and start making money for the country.”

The strategic calculus appears to involve preventing Chinese and Russian influence in the region while securing control of Venezuela’s vast oil reserves—the world’s largest proven oil reserves by most estimates.

THE MADURO QUESTION: Why Did Trump Order the Operation.?

Maduro has been a target of U.S. policy for years. Widely viewed as an illegitimate dictator who stole Venezuela’s 2024 election, Maduro oversaw the economic collapse of what was once one of Latin America’s most prosperous nations. His government has been credibly accused of severe human rights violations, political repression and murdering opposition activists.

However, the manner of his removal raises questions. Trump had previously said Maduro would “voluntarily step down” if given the opportunity. When that failed to materialize, Trump authorized what he characterized as a law enforcement operation but what was widely perceived as a military invasion.

Maduro has denied the drug trafficking allegations, accusing the U.S. of using its “war on drugs” as an excuse to seize control of Venezuela’s oil and install a compliant regime. While Maduro’s credibility is questionable, his accusation reflects a legitimate international concern about U.S. motives.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the operation as “law enforcement,” not invasion, noting that Maduro was arrested by FBI agents on the ground. However, Rubio acknowledged that congressional authorization was “not necessary because this wasn’t an invasion” while simultaneously describing it as a major military operation involving special forces strikes on military bases, air strikes in Caracas and naval positioning off the coast.

THE RIPPLE EFFECTS: What Comes Next for Venezuela.?

Venezuela now faces profound uncertainty. While Maduro is imprisoned in New York, Rodriguez governs a nation in crisis with an army and Supreme Court that backed Maduro, a population traumatized by the military operation and a government that continues to claim Maduro is the legitimate president.

Rodriguez is constitutionally required to call new elections within 30 days but experts question whether meaningful democratic change is possible given that the military and state apparatus remain controlled by Maduro loyalists.

Trump has suggested the U.S. will “run” Venezuela temporarily but offering no clear timeline or mechanism for this arrangement. The situation remains highly unstable, with potential for escalated conflict if Rodriguez continues to resist U.S. demands for control over Venezuela’s oil resources.

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IMPACT ANALYSIS: The Precedent Being Set

Trump’s Venezuela operation represents a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy. By unilaterally conducting a military operation to capture a foreign leader without congressional authorization or international consensus, Trump has established a dangerous precedent.

Other authoritarian leaders around the world are watching to see if the U.S. will apply similar standards to them. China, Russia and other strategic competitors now understand that the U.S., under Trump, may use military force unilaterally to achieve regime change objectives. This understanding could provoke counter-measures and strategic miscalculations.

For Latin America, the message is equally clear: the United States under Trump will not tolerate leaders who refuse to prioritize U.S. resource interests. The region faces a potential return to the 20th-century era of U.S. military interventionism and resource extraction that characterized U.S.-Latin American relations for decades.

EXPERT PERSPECTIVES: What Analysts Say

Foreign policy experts are divided on Trump’s approach. Some argue that removing Maduro from power represents a legitimate effort to end authoritarian rule and support democratic change. Others warn that the unilateral military operation, regardless of Maduro’s crimes, violates international law and sets a dangerous precedent.

The Atlantic Council, a foreign policy think tank, noted that the operation “creates a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Washington to translate its security preferences into strategic reality” by excluding Chinese and Russian influence from Venezuela.

However, analysts also point out that “many entrenched actors are likely to resist meaningful change,” even though “real change is fundamental to U.S. interests and to the Venezuelan people.” This suggests that despite removing Maduro militarily, achieving actual democratic change in Venezuela may prove far more difficult than Trump administration officials suggest.

THE BROADER QUESTION: What Does This Mean for International Law.?

The Venezuela operation raises fundamental questions about the future of international law and the rules-based international order. If the U.S. can unilaterally conduct military operations to capture foreign leaders without UN authorization, what prevents other major powers from doing the same.?

Russia could apply similar logic to Ukraine or the Baltic states. China could conduct military operations in Taiwan or other neighboring territories. The international system relies on mutual respect for sovereignty and established procedures for enforcing international law—procedures that include the International Criminal Court and UN mechanisms, neither of which were employed in Maduro’s capture.

Maduro’s alleged crimes are serious and well-documented. However, the method of addressing those crimes—unilateral military capture and removal—establishes a precedent that could destabilize the entire international system if widely adopted by major powers.

CONCLUSION: A Turning Point for the Region

Trump’s threats to Delcy Rodriguez, his warnings to other Latin American leaders and the military operation that captured Maduro represent a significant turning point in U.S.-Latin American relations. The old era of diplomatic negotiation and respect for sovereignty appears to be giving way to an era of explicit great-power competition and threatened military intervention.

For Rodriguez, the choice is stark: accede to Trump’s demands for control over Venezuelan oil resources or face the military consequences demonstrated by Maduro’s fate. For other Latin American leaders, the message is equally clear: alignment with U.S. interests is not optional.

The world is watching to see how this confrontation between the Trump administration and the new Venezuelan government develops. Maduro’s court appearance in Manhattan on Monday will provide important signals about how serious the Trump administration is about prosecuting its geopolitical rivals. Rodriguez’s response to Trump’s threats will indicate whether Venezuela intends to accept U.S. hegemony or continue to resist.

One fact is certain: the era of Venezuelan independence, however flawed its governance, has ended. What emerges in its place remains to be determined by negotiations between Washington and Caracas—negotiations conducted under the explicit threat of military force.

LATEST UPDATES

·       Monday 5 PM EST: Maduro arraignment scheduled for noon at Manhattan federal courthouse

·       Sunday evening: Rodriguez sworn in as interim president despite Trump’s warnings

·       White House statement: “Perp walk” video of Maduro released by Trump administration

·       International reaction: Multiple governments condemn operation; Cuba announces national mourning

·       Congressional status: Democratic lawmakers demanding Trump seek authorization before further action

·       Trump on Colombia: Continues threats against Petro; refuses to rule out military action

This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as new information emerges.

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