Venezuela on edge: Republicans deny overthrow plan as drones, shots and court hearings rock crisis
With gunfire echoing in Caracas, an interim president installed, the former leader in US custody, and Washington sending mixed signals, Venezuela is now at the center of a rapidly expanding geopolitical storm — one that could reshape power dynamics across the Americas.
Washington has moved to dampen speculation of a full-scale regime change operation in Venezuela, even as the political and security crisis in Caracas escalates following the dramatic capture of President Nicolás Maduro by US forces.
US House Speaker Mike Johnson said American troops are not expected to deploy to Venezuela, stressing that Washington is seeking a “change in behavior, not regime change.”
His comments came after senior Trump administration officials delivered a nearly two-hour classified briefing to congressional leaders on the unfolding situation.
“This is not a regime change. This is demand for a change in behavior,” Johnson said, referring to US accusations that Venezuela under Maduro has been heavily involved in narcotics trafficking into the United States. He added that Washington does not anticipate direct military involvement beyond coercive measures aimed at pressuring the interim government.
The remarks followed a turbulent night in Caracas, where gunfire was reported near the Miraflores presidential palace after unidentified drones were sighted flying overhead.
AFP cited sources close to the Venezuelan government saying security forces opened fire at around 8 p.m. local time, hours after the swearing-in of interim President Delcy Rodríguez. Authorities said the situation was brought under control.
Meanwhile, Maduro and his wife arrived by helicopter in Manhattan for their first court appearance in New York on Monday, where they pleaded not guilty.
The next hearing has been scheduled for March 17. Images of the pair landing at a helipad in the city underscored the extraordinary turn in a saga that has stunned Latin America and the wider world.
US President Donald Trump has issued sharp warnings to several countries, including Cuba, Colombia and Mexico, following Maduro’s capture. However, US Republicans insist that Washington’s goal is to force compliance from Venezuela’s leadership rather than impose a new government.
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado said she has not spoken to Trump since October 2025, the day she received the Nobel Peace Prize.
Speaking to Fox News, Machado said she plans to return to Venezuela “as soon as possible” and described the country as a future “energy hub of the Americas.”
She launched a scathing attack on interim President Delcy Rodríguez, calling her “one of the main architects of torture, persecution, corruption and narcotrafficking.”
Over the weekend, Trump said Machado lacked sufficient support to govern Venezuela, while claiming Rodríguez had signaled willingness to work with Washington. He later warned Rodríguez she would pay a “very big price” if she failed to cooperate.
Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer said the administration’s briefing “posed far more questions than it answered,” accusing Trump of acting without consulting Congress and lacking a clear plan.
He also criticized the president’s remarks that the US intended to “run” Venezuela, calling them vague and alarming.
Johnson countered that Washington has powerful leverage, noting that Venezuelan oil exports have been seized, a move he said could force rapid political change. “We have a way of persuasion,” he said, suggesting economic pressure would drive the country toward new governance.
The shockwaves from Maduro’s ouster are rippling across the region, particularly in Cuba, Venezuela’s closest ally. Havana lowered flags to mourn 32 Cuban security officers reportedly killed during Maduro’s seizure. Cuba, which relies heavily on Venezuelan oil, is now facing fresh uncertainty.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that Cuba could be next in Washington’s sights. “If I lived in Havana and I was in the government, I’d be concerned,” he said.
Trump later appeared to soften that stance, suggesting Cuba’s government could collapse without direct US action. “I think it’s just going to fall. … I don’t think we need any action,” he said.
The developments come as the US reasserts the Monroe Doctrine, under which Washington considers the Americas within its strategic sphere of influence, signaling a tougher posture across Latin America.
Germany, France and the United Kingdom have voiced support for Greenland after Trump rekindled interest in the Arctic Island following the US military operation in Venezuela, adding another layer of geopolitical tension to an already volatile situation.
With gunfire echoing in Caracas, an interim president installed, the former leader in US custody, and Washington sending mixed signals, Venezuela is now at the center of a rapidly expanding geopolitical storm — one that could reshape power dynamics across the Americas.
