In an operation that has sent shockwaves through the international community, US military forces conducted airstrikes on Venezuela’s capital and captured President Nicolás Maduro in what global leaders are calling a flagrant breach of international law. The Saturday morning operation has drawn sharp rebukes from France, Spain, Brazil, Russia, China, and the European Commission.
The captured Venezuelan president and his wife, Cilia Flores, are now in US custody and will face drug trafficking charges in New York, according to US Attorney General Pam Bondi. The operation comes after half a year of escalating confrontation between the Trump administration and the Maduro government, with calls now mounting for an emergency UN Security Council meeting.
UN Secretary General António Guterres expressed deep concern through his spokesperson, emphasizing that “the rules of international law have not been respected” and warning of a dangerous precedent being set. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated that the military operation violated the fundamental principle prohibiting the use of force in international relations.
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, while noting his government never recognized the Maduro regime, condemned the intervention as pushing the region toward “uncertainty and belligerence.” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen joined the chorus calling for respect of international law, while China urged the United States to stop violating the sovereignty of other nations.
The response across South America has been sharply divided, with far-right leaders like Argentina’s Javier Milei celebrating while leftist presidents including Colombia’s Gustavo Petro, Mexico’s Claudia Sheinbaum, and Chile’s Gabriel Boric condemned the action. Experts remain uncertain whether the operation will achieve lasting regime change or simply create further instability in the troubled nation.