Maduro and wife issue first prison statement after US capture
Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, seized by US commandos in a January raid, made their first public statement from Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center on Saturday, calling themselves “steadfast” and “serene.” Held for nearly three months without internet access, the former Venezuelan leaders are allowed only 15-minute phone calls with family and lawyers. A source close to Caracas says Maduro reads the Bible and some detainees still address him as “president.”
Maduro pleaded not guilty to narco-terrorism, cocaine importation, and weapons charges. On Thursday, a judge rejected his defense’s claim that he cannot afford legal fees without Venezuelan government aid. Neither he nor his wife spoke during the hearing.
Back in Venezuela, President Delcy Rodriguez—who took power after Maduro’s ouster—has enacted an amnesty law freeing political prisoners and reformed oil and mining regulations to meet US demands. The State Department confirmed this month that diplomatic ties are being restored.
Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves. Rodriguez’s reforms could reopen the sector to US companies, reshaping global supply. For Nigeria, Africa’s top oil producer, this shift may intensify competition for foreign investment and influence global prices.
With global energy markets in flux, how should Nigeria balance resource sovereignty with the need for foreign investment to develop its own oil sector?