Venezuelan President's drive through city shows 'normalcy' — ally

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Wednesday (November 26) shared a video on his social media accounts in which he appears to be driving a car through the streets in Caracas.

Maduro, with Dominican lawyer Miguel Meija, also known as "Miguelon", next to him in the passenger seat, was driving and pointing at different locations in Caracas, including a metro station and a square decorated with Christmas lights.

Reuters was able to confirm the location of footage from metro signage, buildings and road layout as seen on file and satellite images. Reuters was not able to confirm the date of footage. 

Mejia says what he sees in Caracas is "normalcy."

"I was with "Miguelon" walking through the streets of Caracas and listening to his view on how Dominican medical students prefer to come to Venezuela to do their postgraduate studies because of the quality of our education. How wonderful it is to know that we are providing the world with high‑level male and female doctors! Our doors are wide open!" the post on Instagram reads.

The U.S. has ramped up operations in the Caribbean in recent months, including strikes against alleged drug-trafficking vessels which have killed dozens.

The Trump administration has accused the Venezuelan leader of links to drug trafficking and criminal groups, which Maduro denies.

-Nur-Azna Sanusi, Efrain Otero, Anna Portella/Reuters