Maduro Files Motion to Dismiss Case in US, Accuses Washington of Blocking Defense

Nicolás Maduro has launched a legal attempt to dismiss criminal charges in the United States, arguing that Washington's policy has deprived him of the ability to fund an effective defense. His attorneys emphasize that the freezing of Venezuelan assets and restrictive sanctions have prevented the transfer of funds to cover legal fees, which they claim makes continuing the trial groundless. Maduro accuses the US administration of deliberately acting to prevent him from defending himself against charges of involvement in a narcoterrorism conspiracy. For years, the United States has considered Nicolás Maduro a leader of a cartel involved in cocaine smuggling, leading to a $15 million bounty being announced for him by the Department of Justice in 2020. Simultaneously, Delcy Rodríguez, heading the interim government after Maduro's ouster, directed a direct appeal to President Donald Trump. She called him a "partner and friend," calling for the immediate lifting of economic sanctions that are paralyzing the country. This situation coincides with reports that the new authorities have suspended nineteen oil and gas extraction contracts that were signed during the Maduro administration. These changes signal a deep reorganization of Venezuela's energy sector under Washington's oversight. „Por favor, pongan fin ya a estas sanciones y al bloqueo que destruyen a nuestro pueblo.” (Please, end these sanctions and the blockade that are destroying our people now.) — Delcy Rodríguez An important piece of the geopolitical puzzle is Donald Trump's sudden shift on energy supplies to Cuba. The White House has maintained a strict blockade on shipments of Venezuelan oil to the island, aiming to cut off the Cuban government from key energy supplies. As a result, Cuba has been forced to seek humanitarian aid in Mexico, which has become its main supplier of raw materials in the face of increasing blackouts. Experts interpret this as an attempt to draw Havana to the side of American influence and reduce its dependence on Russia. Meanwhile, the Italian energy giant Eni has obtained permission to receive raw materials as payment for previous gas deliveries, indicating a slow unblocking of the region's trade potential. 15 mln USD — bounty from the US government for Maduro's capture Mood within Venezuela itself appears cautiously optimistic. After years of hyperinflation and humanitarian crisis, US diplomatic and economic intervention offers hope for stabilization. However, Maduro's own fate remains uncertain. His motion to dismiss the case is seen by observers as a procedural move aimed at delaying justice in the face of growing international pressure and the internal isolation of the former dictator.