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New Delhi: Newly sworn-in New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has criticised President Donald Trump over the US military action in Venezuela, saying he personally spoke to the president to oppose the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
Speaking at a press conference, Mamdani said he had been briefed earlier in the day on the capture of Maduro and Flores by US forces and their planned detention in federal custody in New York City. He described the action as a unilateral attack on a sovereign nation. "Unilaterally attacking a sovereign nation is an act of war and a violation of federal and international law," Mamdani said.
The mayor said he called Trump directly to register his opposition. "I registered my protest. I made my position clear, and the conversation ended there."
Maduro and Flores have been indicted in the Southern District of New York and were brought to the city to face charges following their capture. The developments came just two days after Mamdani was sworn in as mayor. He said he was briefed by senior members of his administration, including his chief of staff and the police commissioner, about the arrests and the planned federal detention.
In a statement, Mamdani said what he described as an "open attempt at regime change" directly affects New Yorkers, including tens of thousands of Venezuelans living in the city. He said his administration's priority was the safety of all residents and that the situation would continue to be closely monitored.
"Unilaterally attacking a sovereign nation is an act of war and a violation of federal and international law. 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 in a statement.
US Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a post on X that Maduro and Flores had been indicted in the Southern District of New York. She said Maduro faces charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy, conspiracy to import cocaine, and possession of machine guns and destructive devices, as well as conspiracy to use such weapons against the United States.
"They will soon face the full force of American justice on US soil," Bondi said, praising US troops for carrying out what she described as an "incredibly successful" operation.
The US on Saturday morning launched a daring operation in Venezuelan capital Caracas with 160 aircraft and elite Delta Force to capture Maduro and his wife.
