Maduro’s son says diplomacy will prevail ahead of ousted Venezuelan president’s New York hearing

"I deeply thank President Delcy Rodriguez and the entire political team leading Venezuela for having made the decision, for the good of the country, to open the diplomatic channel to resolve any difference that may exist and that does exist and will continue to exist," he said.

"Just as there are differences in the family, there are differences between countries, and the way to resolve them is politics and diplomacy. And I know that diplomacy, I have faith, my heart tells me that, through diplomacy, I will embrace my father and Cilia again," he added in a message published on social media.

The former president and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured by US forces on January 3 and put on trial in New York on charges related to drug trafficking.

Maduro Guerra said that during his father's third hearing in a federal court in New York, "we will be able to continue expressing the truth about who Nicolas Maduro Moros is."

"A decent man, a very brave man, an indomitable, irreducible man, whose only act has been to fight for the prosperity and peace of this people," he said, describing the capture as a "kidnapping."

He also said Venezuela would overcome the "aggressions" and the crisis caused by recent earthquakes, adding that the sadness caused by these events "we have turned it and are turning it into strength to keep moving forward."

At the time of publication, a US judge had set a trial date of June 1, 2027.

Nicolas Maduro faces charges of conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism and conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States. Cilia Flores is accused of offences related to drug importation and possession of firearms.

According to the information provided, both were captured by US forces during an operation in Caracas on January 3 that included bombings and left at least 100 people dead and 100 injured.