WASHINGTON, NEW YORK – The United States has informed a federal court in New York that it does not recognize Nicolás Maduro as the head of state of Venezuela, a position that could have significant legal consequences in the criminal case against the former leader.
According to court filings submitted by the U.S. State Department, Washington considers Venezuela to be represented by authorities currently led by Delcy Rodríguez, who assumed the role of acting president after Maduro was captured earlier this year.
The statement was submitted to the court as part of ongoing proceedings in New York, where Maduro is facing charges including drug trafficking and narco-terrorism.
Recognition question before U.S. courts
In the filing, U.S. authorities clarified that they do not recognize Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate head of state and instead acknowledge Rodríguez as the official authority empowered to represent the Venezuelan state in legal matters before U.S. courts.
This position is important because recognition by the U.S. government plays a key role in determining who can speak on behalf of a foreign state in American courts.
Maduro’s defense team has argued that he remains the legitimate president of Venezuela and should therefore benefit from head-of-state immunity, which could shield him from prosecution in U.S. courts.
However, if U.S. authorities do not recognize him as president, that argument becomes significantly weaker under American law.
Political and legal uncertainty
Maduro was captured in early January during a U.S. operation and later appeared before a federal judge in Manhattan, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following his detention, Venezuela’s Supreme Tribunal authorized then-Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to assume presidential powers on an interim basis to maintain the functioning of the state.
Rodríguez has since been acting as Venezuela’s head of government while Maduro remains in custody in the United States awaiting trial.
Diplomatic shift
The legal filing comes amid broader diplomatic developments between Washington and Caracas. The United States and Venezuela recently announced steps toward restoring diplomatic and consular relations after several years of strained ties.
Analysts say the U.S. position presented to the court reflects both the ongoing criminal case against Maduro and Washington’s evolving relationship with the current authorities governing Venezuela.
For Maduro, the dispute over recognition could become a central issue in the trial, as it may determine whether he can claim the legal protections normally granted to sitting heads of state.