Venezuela latest: Nicolás Maduro tells US court 'I am still president' as he pleads not guilty to drugs charges
BBC••nation
Key Points:
- House Speaker Mike Johnson defended the US operation in Venezuela as "decisive and justified," emphasizing that President Trump acted within constitutional authority and praised military personnel involved.
- Senate Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, criticized the classified briefing on the operation as vague and expressed concerns about future similar actions without congressional oversight.
- Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro appeared in a New York federal court, pleading not guilty to cocaine-trafficking conspiracy charges, while experts question the likelihood of a conviction given the political complexities.
- US energy companies like Chevron, Exxon, and ConocoPhillips plan to meet with administration officials amid discussions of investing in Venezuela’s oil industry, though analysts express skepticism due to past expropriations and political instability.
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