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While Nicolás Maduro declared himself “innocent” during his first appearance before a federal court in New York, in Managua Rosario Murillo called for “infinite brotherhood,” denounced that “security and peace” in the Americas had been “wounded,” and accused the authorities of having “kidnapped” the Venezuelan president and his wife, Cilia Flores, in Caracas, without directly mentioning the United States or President Donald Trump.
The “co-president” and spokesperson for Nicaragua’s regime reiterated on January 5, 2026 the country’s official position regarding the operation known as Absolute Resolution, which took place on Saturday, January 3, 2026: “We have declared ourselves in infinite brotherhood with the glorious people of Bolívar, of Chávez, of Nicolás—that honorable people who today rise above all misery to demand justice and respect for the dignity of each and every person,” she said.
“And for the lives of Nicolás and Cilia, beloved brothers who were kidnapped and illegally transferred to the United States, where there is an attempt to continue wounding the authority, dignity, and honor of all,” Murillo continued during her daily address on the regime’s propaganda outlets.
In an ambiguous tone, Murillo said that “these days, which have been very particular,” have seen “security and peace in our Caribbean America” harmed, and she reiterated the Sandinista regime’s solidarity with the Venezuelan people.
However, neither in her address nor in the official statement issued by Nicaragua—which was signed by neither Ortega nor Murillo—was the anti-imperialist language typically used by the regime when referring to the United States employed.
Murillo Spoke, but sparingly…
In her brief message, Murillo avoided referring to the criminal charges facing Maduro. She also did not respond to the statements contained in the court filing that place Nicaragua on the drug trafficking route of the Cartel of the Suns, linked to Chavismo.
The “co-president” described the arrest as an act of aggression that violates the “right to live peacefully and securely.”
Her statement, however, contrasts with Nicaragua’s internal situation, where human rights violations are reported constantly, defenders and independent journalists are persecuted, and more than 60 political prisoners remain in the jails of the Ortega–Murillo regime.
Her remarks were made almost in parallel with the court hearing in the United States, where Maduro appeared for the first time before a federal judge. “I am not guilty, I am still the president of my country,” Maduro said.
During the hearing in a federal court in New York, Maduro spoke in Spanish and claimed he had been “kidnapped” from his residence in Caracas by U.S. forces. “I am the president of Venezuela and I consider myself a prisoner of war,” he stated.
Nicaragua at the UN: Condemnation Without Naming Those Responsible
On the diplomatic front, during an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council, Nicaragua’s permanent representative, Jaime Hermida Castillo, read a message on behalf of the Ortega–Murillo regime in which he avoided explicitly mentioning the United States or its president, Donald Trump.
“This zone of peace must be absolutely respected by all governments of the world without exception, and especially by the members of this Security Council, which is responsible for international peace and security,” Hermida told the body, echoing Murillo’s remarks.
He added that “this decision, and the desires and aspirations of our peoples, constitute a noble contribution to world peace, international law, and the Charter of the United Nations.”
Although the regime’s official statement maintains that “Nicaragua will always stand with Venezuela,” the speech lacked the anti-imperialist language that has characterized Ortega and Murillo’s foreign policy for years.
Cuba’s Presence in Venezuela
The U.S. operation against Maduro revived accusations by the United States against Cuba.
The Cuban regime declared official mourning from 6:00 a.m. on Monday, January 5, 2026, until midnight on Tuesday, following the death of 32 Cuban citizens during the January 3 operation in Venezuela.
Those who died, Cuba added, “were carrying out missions representing the Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior, at the request of counterpart agencies in the South American country,” without explicitly stating that they were part of Maduro’s personal security detail.
The acknowledgment of Cuban casualties reignited an old controversy. In 2019, the United States had already accused Cuba of maintaining a military and security contingent in Venezuela. Havana denied it at the time.
“Washington goes so far as to pressure third-country governments to try to persuade Cuba to withdraw this alleged and implausible military and security support, and even to cease providing support and solidarity to Venezuela (…) It blatantly lies by claiming that Cuba maintains thousands of military and security personnel in Venezuela, influencing and determining what happens in that brotherly country,” Cuba reportedly responded in 2019 in a statement published on the front pages of the main official newspapers and reproduced by the website Cubadebate.
The Ortega–Murillo regime also issued a statement in which it shared the “indignation and pain” of the Cuban government and people over the death of 32 Cubans during what it described as an “illegal” U.S. military attack in Venezuela.
“We share the indignation and pain of the people and government of Cuba, and particularly of the families of the fallen comrades in the illegal attack against Venezuela, and in these tragic moments we send our affection, recognition, and solidarity to the brave people of Fidel,” the statement said.
