The president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, stated this Tuesday that the United States must return Nicolás Maduro to Venezuela and criticized the military attack on January 3 against Caracas, in which the president and the first lady and deputy, Cilia Flores, were kidnapped.
This was stated by the Colombian president at an event in Bogotá, where he maintained that Latin America has a different conception of justice compared to the Anglo-Saxon and European tradition, reports the EFE agency.
Petro is scheduled to meet with United States President Donald Trump on February 3 at the White House; He added that “bombing Caracas, Bolívar’s homeland, that is not an act against Maduro” but against the country.
Last Saturday, January 3, 2026, Venezuela was the victim of a military attack by the United States in civilian and military locations in the states of Miranda, Aragua, La Guaira and the capital of the country, which concluded with the kidnapping of the President of the Republic, Nicolás Maduro, and the first lady, Cilia Flores.
After their kidnapping, the head of state and his wife were transferred on Monday, January 5, to a federal court in Manhattan where an illegal hearing was held by federal judge Alvin K. Hellerstein.
President Nicolás Maduro and the first lady, Representative Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty to all illegal and unfounded charges before the Federal Court of the Southern District of New York. “I am the president of Venezuela and I consider myself a prisoner of war”were his words.
“I am innocent, not guilty, I am a decent man, I am still president of my country,” said the president, who spoke through an interpreter before Judge Alvin Hellerstein.
In this regard, Venezuela received the support of member countries of the UN Security Council. An attack that violated the principles of the United Nations Charter and all international legislation.
The United States did not respect the norms of international law during its military operation in Venezuela, said UN Secretary General António Guterres. “The United States did not comply with international law in its operation in Venezuela,” declared its representative during the session; Likewise, he added that the future of Caracas remains uncertain and raises serious concerns.
Given the temporary absence of President Maduro, The Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) appointed the executive vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, in charge of the presidency of the Republic.
Venezuela has received demonstrations of solidarity after the US attack. Different governments around the world have expressed their repudiation of the US attacks against Venezuela; Likewise, demonstrations have taken place in different cities around the world in support of President Maduro and the first lady, Cilia Flores, demanding their release.
Likewise, the Venezuelan people remain active in the streets in rejection of the US military aggression, demanding the release of the presidential couple.
