New York (US): New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Saturday described the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, by US forces as an “act of war” and a “violation of international law”.

In a statement posted on X, Mamdani said he had been briefed earlier in the day on what he characterised as a US military operation that resulted in the arrest of the Venezuelan leader and his planned detention in federal custody in New York City. He warned that any unilateral action against a sovereign nation breached both federal and international law.

“Unilaterally attacking a sovereign nation is an act of war and a violation of federal and international law,” Mamdani wrote.

The mayor said the operation had implications beyond foreign policy, noting that it could directly affect tens of thousands of Venezuelans living in New York City. He added that his administration was monitoring the situation closely, with a focus on the safety of all residents.

“This blatant pursuit of regime change doesn’t just affect those abroad, it directly impacts New Yorkers, including tens of thousands of Venezuelans who call this city home,” he said. “My focus is their safety and the safety of every New Yorker.”

Trump confirms Maduro’s arrest

According to US officials, President Maduro and Flores were captured in Caracas and flown out of Venezuela in a joint operation involving US intelligence agencies and law enforcement. Former US President Donald Trump confirmed the arrests, stating that the pair had been indicted in the Southern District of New York on charges related to alleged drug trafficking and narco-terrorism conspiracies.

Speaking after the operation, Trump said US forces had neutralised Venezuela’s military capabilities during the mission. “All Venezuelan military capacities were rendered powerless as the men and women of our military, working with US law enforcement, successfully captured Maduro in the dead of night,” he said.

Trump added that both Maduro and Flores would face trial in the United States, though authorities had yet to decide whether proceedings would take place in New York or Florida. “They will soon face the full might of American justice and stand trial on American soil,” he said.

Meanwhile, Venezuela’s Supreme Court late on Sunday ordered Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to assume the role of interim president.

ANI