A US military operation resulting in the seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday has prompted widespread international reaction, with both allies and adversaries of the United States and Venezuela voicing concern.
International Condemnation and Support
The operation, which involved a pre-dawn attack with air strikes targeting sites in and around Caracas, led to Maduro and his wife being flown by helicopter to New York City to face drug-trafficking and weapons charges. President Donald Trump stated the US would “run” Venezuela and exploit its oil reserves, sharing a photo on his Truth Social account depicting Maduro in custody on the USS Iwo Jima, blindfolded and handcuffed.
China strongly condemned the US operation, calling for Maduro’s “immediate release” and asserting it was a “clear violation of international law, basic norms in international relations, and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.” Russia echoed this sentiment, demanding the US “reconsider its position and release the legally elected president” and his wife.
Iran, which was previously targeted by US bombing campaigns, similarly “strongly condemns the US military attack on Venezuela and a flagrant violation of the country’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity.” Mexico, having previously faced military threats from Trump over drug trafficking, also strongly condemned the action, citing concerns for “regional stability.”
Several Latin American nations also expressed disapproval. Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro labeled the US action an “assault on the sovereignty” of Latin America, predicting a humanitarian crisis. Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called the attacks a “serious affront” to Venezuela’s sovereignty, while Cuba denounced it as “state terrorism against the brave Venezuelan people.”
However, the response wasn’t universally negative. Italy, with its far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a Trump ally, argued the US military action was “legitimate” and “defensive.” Israel also hailed the operation, stating Washington acted as the “leader of the free world.”
European reactions were mixed. France stated the operation undermined international law and that no external solution could be imposed on Venezuela, while suggesting Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia as a potential leader for a political transition. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the intervention “violates international law and pushes the region toward a horizon of uncertainty and militarism.” Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz acknowledged Maduro had “led his country to ruin” but deemed the US action “legally complex.”
The European Union generally expressed concern and urged respect for international law, while acknowledging Maduro “lacks legitimacy.” However, EU candidate countries North Macedonia, Albania, and Kosovo voiced support for Washington, stating they “stand with the United States and the Venezuelan people for freedom and democracy.”
The United Kingdom stated it would discuss the “evolving situation” with US counterparts, while acknowledging it would “shed no tears” over the end of Maduro’s “regime.” The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed being “deeply alarmed” by the strikes, warning they could “constitute a dangerous precedent.” Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated Maduro “presided over a brutal and repressive dictatorship” and that the end of his regime offered “new hope.”
Ukraine, reliant on US support in its conflict with Russia, did not comment on the legality of the US action but focused on Maduro’s lack of legitimacy and the repression of the Venezuelan government, supporting “democracy, human rights, and the interests of Venezuelans.” South Africa, which Trump has accused of discrimination, stated that “unlawful, unilateral force…undermines the stability of the international order.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted the US military operation?
The US military operation was carried out to seize Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who now faces drug-trafficking and weapons charges in New York City.
Which countries condemned the US action?
China, Russia, Iran, Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Cuba, Spain, and South Africa all condemned the US military operation.
Which countries expressed support for the US action?
Italy, Israel, North Macedonia, Albania, and Kosovo expressed support for the US military operation.
Given the sharply divided international response, what impact might this action have on future international relations and the established norms of sovereignty?
