Following the dramatic apprehension of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro by US special forces, Dominican President Luis Abinader has formally reiterated his nation’s diplomatic position. The operation, which culminated in Maduro’s transfer to New York for trial, prompted a swift response from the Caribbean leader.
In an official statement disseminated via his social media channel, President Abinader underscored that the Dominican Republic had consistently refused to acknowledge the legitimacy of Maduro’s presidency following the contentious July 2024 electoral process. He referenced the pivotal Santo Domingo Declaration from August of that year, a document which emphatically called for international respect for the sovereign will of the Venezuelan electorate as expressed through democratic ballots.
Abinader articulated his government’s readiness to provide collaborative support aimed at reinstating democratic governance, fostering peace, and achieving national reconciliation within Venezuela. He confirmed his administration is monitoring the rapidly evolving situation between the United States and Venezuela with acute attention. Concluding his remarks with a powerful principle, the President declared, “The Dominican Republic will always stand on the side of democracy. Wherever, whenever, and before whomever.”
In a parallel development, Nicolás Maduro arrived under heavy guard at the Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York. Escorted in handcuffs from a US military aircraft, he was met by a formidable security detail comprising agents from multiple federal agencies, including the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), amidst freezing sub-zero temperatures. Reports from local media indicate his anticipated transfer to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, a federal penitentiary, pending judicial proceedings.