Trump's ultimatum to Maduro: leave power now in exchange for safe-conduct

The United States has issued an ultimatum to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro: Washington has offered him safe passage out of the country and safety with his wife, son and loyalists on the condition that he leaves immediately and allows the return of democracy. This was reported by the Miami Herald, citing some sources according to which the phone call between Donald Trump and Maduro was a last attempt to try to avoid an American attack. A confrontation that was unsuccessful: Maduro saw his request for a general amnesty and for maintaining control of the armed forces as happened in Nicaragua in 1991 rejected. The Venezuelan president for his part rejected the American demand to leave immediately.

The Venezuelan government of Nicolás Maduro has denounced the United States to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (Icao) for 'violation of its sovereignty', in connection with President Donald Trump's announcement that he wants to completely close Venezuelan airspace and surrounding areas. In an official statement, the Minister of Transport, Ramón Velásquez Araguayán, accused Washington of 'unlawfully' interfering in Venezuelan civil aviation, in violation of Annex 17 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation. "The Venezuelan state, as part of its peace diplomacy, has denounced in writing to the International Civil Aviation Organisation the serious threats against our airspace that endanger security in this hemisphere," Velásquez said.

The Prosecutor's Office of the International Criminal Court announced the closure of the office opened in 2024 in Caracas, denouncing the Venezuelan government's lack of cooperation in the investigation officially launched in 2021 to verify the commission of international crimes and serious human rights violations by the authorities. For Assistant Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang, the court concluded that the conditions for joint work did not exist. The decision will not affect the proceedings. "The investigation into the alleged crimes against humanity committed in Venezuela remains active" and will continue from The Hague office. The opening of the office was considered 'a unique opportunity' to advance the investigation and provide technical support to the country. The closure now marks a change of phase in relations between the government of Nicolás Maduro and the Court. According to the Rome Statute, the ICC can only intervene if a state is unable or unwilling to investigate crimes. The government of Nicolas Maduro has always maintained that it has the necessary capacity and determination, claiming the principle of complementarity and demanding that investigations remain domestic. The file on Venezuela was opened in February 2018, with a preliminary examination of abuses attributed to security forces during the 2017 protests and cases of imprisoned opponents. Over the years, further allegations of violations - including those following the disputed 2024 presidential elections - have reached The Hague, expanding the dossier on the country.