The administration of President Donald Trump would have intensified its pressure on the Venezuelan regime, with a formal demand for cooperation in the investigations that the U.S. government is conducting against high-ranking officials of chavismo, including Maduro's son, Nicolás Maduro Guerra, and eight other key officials.
The diplomatic and judicial offensive by Washington is part of a broader campaign against what it considers an international criminal network that includes drug trafficking, narco-terrorism, and corruption within the structure of the former government of Caracas, according to the media ABC.
Following the U.S. military operation on January 3, 2026, in which special forces captured Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores in Caracas and transported them to New York to face federal charges, the White House has intensified its rhetoric against other associates of chavismo.
Among the demands made by Washington to the government now led by Delcy Rodríguez is the deputy and prominent figure of chavismo, Nicolás Maduro Guerra, known as "Nicolasito," who has denied the accusations and remains active in Venezuelan politics from the National Assembly.
Maduro Guerra, 35 years old, faces accusations of collaborating with drug trafficking networks linked to international cartels.
In addition to "Nicolasito," the U.S. administration is seeking the cooperation of eight other high-ranking officials accused by the Department of Justice of alleged involvement in serious crimes that have directly impacted the security and justice interests of the United States.
However, the Venezuelan Constitution prohibits the extradition of nationals, which complicates any formal attempts to transfer these individuals to a U.S. court.
In light of this legal barrier, the White House has urged the Venezuelan government, now led by the interim president Delcy Rodríguez, to cooperate with the investigations through alternative judicial assistance mechanisms and information sharing that could facilitate prosecutions or sanctions without the need for direct extradition.
Trump's demand comes in the context of a fragile bilateral relationship between Washington and Caracas following the intervention and capture of Maduro.
The U.S. government has justified these actions as part of its fight against transnational drug trafficking and terrorism, describing those involved as significant threats to regional security and hemispheric stability.
For its part, figures from the Venezuelan regime have characterized the demands from Washington as interference and have rejected any violation of national sovereignty.
Maduro Guerra, from Caracas, has promoted his narrative of resistance and denunciation against what he calls an "external intervention" that affects international law and Venezuela's right to self-determination.
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