Maduro says he’s a ‘prisoner of war’: Why that matters
Al Jazeera••nation
Key Points:
- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was abducted by US special forces and appeared in a New York court, pleading not guilty to charges including narcoterrorism and cocaine import conspiracy; his wife and son are also co-defendants.
- Maduro declared himself a prisoner of war (POW) in court, invoking protections under the Third Geneva Convention, though he faces narcotics charges rather than war crimes.
- The US government characterizes the operation as a law enforcement action against drug trafficking, denying it constitutes a war against Venezuela, despite contradictory statements from former President Trump suggesting military control over Venezuela.
- Experts argue the US operation violates international law and Venezuela’s sovereignty, viewing it as motivated by control over Venezuela’s vast oil reserves rather than legitimate
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