Venezuela defense minister says will resist presence of foreign troops

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro sits with Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez during a rally against a possible escalation of U.S. actions toward the country, at Fort Tiuna military base in Caracas, Venezuela, November 25, 2025. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria

Jan ‌3 (Reuters) - Venezuela will ‌resist the presence ‌of foreign troops, Defense Minister Vladimir ‍Padrino said in ‍a ‌video early on Saturday, ‍as ​U.S. President Donald ⁠Trump said Venezuelan President Nicolas ‌Maduro had been ⁠captured ‍and was being removed ‍from the country.

A ‌U.S. attack on the country in the early morning struck civilian areas, Padrino said, ‌and Venezuela iscompiling information about dead ​and injured people.

(Reporting by Julia Symmes Cobb)