Maduro Captured! 🇻🇪 Chaos in Venezuela 🚨
World
The State Department has issued a security alert, stating that armed “colectivos”—pro-regime militias—appear to be establishing roadblocks and searching vehicles for American citizens. This follows the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro one week prior. The alert, released Saturday, urges all U.S. citizens in Venezuela to leave immediately, citing reports that these armed militias are actively seeking evidence of American presence or support for the government. “U.S. citizens in Venezuela should remain vigilant and exercise caution when traveling by road,” the alert stated. Additionally, the State Department’s warning comes amid ongoing volatility following last weekend’s special forces raid, which resulted in the deaths of numerous Venezuelan opponents of President Maduro. President Donald Trump, speaking to the New York Times last week, indicated a potential future visit to Venezuela, stating he believed “at some point it’ll be safe,” though he had previously asserted the U.S. was effectively “running” the country following the removal of its leaders through a nighttime assault on Caracas. Meanwhile, government supporters have taken to the streets to denounce Maduro’s capture as an act of imperialism.
Responding to the security alert, the Venezuelan foreign ministry issued a statement dismissing the State Department’s warning as “based on fabricated accounts aimed at creating a perception of risk that does not exist.” The ministry emphasized that “Venezuela is in absolute calm, peace, and stability,” noting that “all populated centers, communication routes, checkpoints, and security devices are functioning normally, and all weapons of the Republic are under the control of the Bolivarian Government, the sole ‘guarantor of the legitimate monopoly of force and the tranquility of the Venezuelan people.’” Reporters and activists in Caracas have observed rifle-carrying members of *colectivos* roaming the capital on motorbikes and establishing checkpoints throughout the city. Furthermore, the roads connecting Caracas to its western border are heavily policed with dozens of military and police checkpoints. State Department officials conducted a visit to Caracas on Friday, reportedly as part of preparations for the re-opening of the US embassy there. Meanwhile, Nicolás Maduro Rodríguez, the acting president, has called for improved relations with Washington despite his predecessor’s abduction. Separately, Nicolás Maduro Guerra, the deposed leader’s son and a lawmaker, stated in a video released on Saturday that his father, Nicolás Maduro, reported he was “doing well” while awaiting trial in a US jail, along with his wife Cilia Flores. Mr. Maduro Guerra quoted his father as saying, “We are doing well. We are fighters.”
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This article is AI-synthesized from public sources and may not reflect original reporting.