**US Offers $25 Million Reward for Arrest of Nicolás Maduro Amid Controversial Inauguration**

The international community criticizes Maduro's inauguration and enacts sanctions on several Venezuelan officials.

The United States has raised the stakes in its pursuit of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by announcing a $25 million reward for information that leads to his arrest. The announcement coincided with Maduro’s swearing-in for a controversial third six-year term, which has drawn ire from both the international community and domestic opposition leaders. Alongside Maduro, the US has also offered rewards for help in capturing other high-ranking officials, including Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, and introduced a new $15 million reward for Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino.

The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has reacted by imposing sanctions on 15 prominent Venezuelan individuals, attributing their actions to "undermining democracy, the rule of law, and human rights violations." UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has labeled Maduro’s regime as "fraudulent." The European Union has reacted similarly by extending "restrictive measures" against Venezuela, citing insufficient progress toward restoring democracy and lawfulness, while also sanctioning another group of 15 officials.

Following these developments, Canada joined in imposing new sanctions, with Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly condemning Maduro's "shameless actions" and asserting that the erosion of democratic practices would not be tolerated. Despite the allegations from Western nations and opposition figures, Maduro continues to reject claims of wrongdoing, attributing the economic crisis in Venezuela to the sanctions imposed by the US and its allies.

The US rationale for the substantial reward stems from charges against Maduro, dating back to 2020, which included accusations of narcotics trafficking and corruption. The US has previously accused Maduro and others of engaging in "narco-terrorism," suggesting they have used cocaine distribution to undermine public health in America. In response, Maduro has characterized the US-led sanctions as illegitimate, asserting that they are primarily responsible for Venezuela's economic difficulties.

During his inaugural address, which was tightly controlled and devoid of significant media presence, Maduro promised a new era of peace, prosperity, and genuine democracy, even as his election was contested by the international community. Only a few allied leaders, including those from Cuba and Nicaragua, attended the event.

In contrast, the opposition, which has rejected the legitimacy of the recent elections, has backed exiled candidate Edmundo González as the rightful president—an individual Maduro's administration has sought to silence through an arrest warrant, offering a $100,000 reward for his capture. In light of these tensions, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for the release of those "arbitrarily detained" following the elections.

Maduro's government remains increasingly isolated as it navigates these international pressures while maintaining claims of sovereignty against foreign intervention.