11.01.2026 13:32
The first message from Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who was kidnapped and imprisoned by the United States, has arrived. Maduro's son, Nicolas Maduro Guerra, reported that his father sent the message, "I am fine and not sad."
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who was kidnapped by U.S. forces on Saturday, January 3, along with his wife Cilia Flores, and is currently detained in a prison cell in Brooklyn, reportedly stated in a message sent to his son and National Assembly Member Nicolas Maduro Guerra that he is "in good condition."
"WE ARE WARRIORS"
Nicolas Maduro Guerra stated in a video released yesterday that his lawyers told him, "his father said he is strong," and conveyed that his father said, "We are not sad, we are good, we are warriors."
TALKS HAVE BEGUN
It was reported that talks have begun to re-establish diplomatic relations between the U.S. Trump administration and the interim government currently in charge of Venezuela. Washington also confirmed that American diplomats went to the Venezuelan capital to discuss the reopening of the embassy. Additionally, reports in U.S. media emphasized that the Trump administration is "in close contact with the transitional authorities of Venezuela."
DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WERE CUT IN 2019
The diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Venezuela were severed in 2019 during Trump's first term in the White House. Last week, Trump repeatedly stated that after Maduro's kidnapping and the appointment of Delcy Rodriguez as interim President, "the U.S. is interested in benefiting from Venezuelan oil." Trump also signed a presidential decree to "protect" the revenues from Venezuelan oil sales. Rodriguez promised to cooperate with Trump regarding his interest in her country's oil while also emphasizing that she "refuses to bow to Washington."
On the other hand, the opposition in Venezuela had demanded the release of political prisoners. Jorge Rodríguez, the President of the Venezuelan National Assembly, stated a few days ago that a large number of detainees would be released as a gesture of peace.
In response, the human rights organization Foro Penal confirmed via social media that Venezuelan authorities released five people, including Bergelio Laverde, the youth coordinator of Machado's Bente Venezuela party, in Bolívar state.