Global Leaders Clash Over US Capture Of Maduro
International Reactions Pour In After US Removes Maduro from Power
THE US-led capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has prompted intense global reactions, ranging from outright condemnation to guarded approval. The operation, which involved large-scale military strikes on Saturday, resulted in Maduro and his wife being removed from Venezuela and transferred to the United States to face criminal charges.
China and Russia were among the strongest critics, with Beijing expressing deep shock and Moscow accusing the US of violating Venezuela’s sovereignty through armed aggression. Iran also denounced the strikes, warning that such actions undermine international stability and legal norms.
Across Latin America, leaders voiced alarm. Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva warned that military attacks on sovereign nations could usher in a dangerous era of global disorder. Colombia and Chile echoed these concerns, calling for peaceful solutions rather than force.
Cuba’s leadership condemned the operation as criminal, while Uruguay reaffirmed its rejection of military intervention, saying it was closely monitoring developments.
In Venezuela, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello appealed for calm, urging citizens to trust the country’s institutions while calling on the international community to condemn the US action.
Yet some leaders welcomed the development. Argentine President Javier Milei celebrated what he described as a step forward for freedom, aligning himself with President Donald Trump, who has defended the operation as necessary to facilitate political transition.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer adopted a nuanced position, declining to criticise the US directly while affirming that Britain regarded Maduro as an illegitimate leader. He stressed that the UK was not involved in the strikes and reiterated his commitment to international law, saying Britain would work with partners to support a peaceful and democratic transition in Venezuela.
