Global leaders break silence after US captures Maduro overnight, but one South American leader is celebrating

In the early hours of Saturday, the United States launched a major military operation inside Venezuela, targeting key sites in and around Caracas and resulting in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

According to Reuters, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the development on social media and in a press briefing, stating that U.S. forces carried out a “large-scale strike” and that Maduro and his wife were transported out of the country to face charges in the United States.

The operation, described by U.S. officials as necessary to counter what they label a “narco-terrorism” threat, represents the most direct U.S. military intervention in Latin America in decades. The move has triggered an intense global response, with most world leaders condemning the U.S. action as a violation of international law and Venezuelan sovereignty.

Most world leaders condemned the operation as a violation of international law

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called the operation “a dangerous precedent” and expressed deep concern about its implications for regional stability and the UN Charter, urging all parties to respect international legal norms.

China strongly condemned what it called the US use of force against a sovereign country. The Foreign Ministry said China was “deeply shocked” by the military action against Venezuela and its president.

France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the operation broke the rule against using force, which is a basic part of international law. He wrote on X that no lasting political solution can be forced from outside and that only the people themselves can decide their future. Trump announced that Maduro is heading to face charges in New York.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry called it “an act of armed aggression against Venezuela” and said it was deeply concerning and wrong. The ministry said the reasons given to justify the action were not valid and called for dialogue to prevent the situation from getting worse.

South Africa called on the UN Security Council to hold an urgent meeting to address the situation. The country’s Department of International Relations said the Security Council is responsible for maintaining international peace and security. Before this operation, Maduro made concessions about oil access to the US in recent months.

Mexico’s Foreign Affairs Ministry strongly rejected the military actions carried out by US armed forces in Venezuela. The ministry said it was a clear violation of Article 2 of the UN Charter.

Ecuador’s president, Daniel Noboa, however, expressed joy at Maduro’s arrest. “The time is coming for all the narco-Chavista criminals. Their structure will finally collapse across the entire continent,” he reacted.