During his speech, Maduro talked about the number of alleged mercenaries detained in Venezuela for trying to undermine his government, saying they numbered more than 150, came from 25 countries.

Days after being sworn in as Venezuela's president for a third term, Nicolás Maduro addressed the nation on Wednesday. The incumbent leader spoke at the Teresa Carreño Theater with thousands of supporters in attendance.

The inauguration of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro left his opponents grappling with mixed feelings of hope and disappointment, wondering why the self-styled socialist leader could not be stopped despite credible evidence that he had lost the election last year.