Leaders around the world are swiftly responding to news that the U.S. attacked Venezuela overnight and captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
Some leaders responded diplomatically, saying they’re monitoring the situation and urging respect for the rule of law. Others strongly condemned the U.S.’s actions, calling them “unacceptable.”
The news broke early Saturday after the U.S. government launched an attack on the oil-rich nation, ultimately flying the captured Maduro and his wife out of the country — a significant escalation in the U.S.’s already controversial approach to Venezuela.
U.S. President Donald Trump first announced the developments on social media just after 4:30 a.m. ET. Maduro and his wife have since been indicted in the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of New York, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said on social media platform X.
Officials around the world are paying close attention to the unfolding situation, which, according to reports, marks the most direct intervention by the U.S. in the region since 1989.
WATCH | Trump says he captured Maduro and wife during attack in Caracas:
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The United States hit Venezuela with a ‘large-scale strike’ early Saturday and said its president, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife have been captured and flown out of the country after months of stepped-up pressure by Washington — a nighttime operation announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on social media hours after the attack.
Leaders in Latin America
Officials from countries across Latin America were swift in issuing responses. Right-wing nations in the region have voiced more support for Trump’s actions, while countries led by left-wing governments have strongly condemned them.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva posted a long and damning response on X.
“The bombings on Venezuelan territory and the capture of its president cross an unacceptable line,” he wrote in Portuguese. “These acts represent a grave affront to Venezuela’s sovereignty and yet another extremely dangerous precedent for the entire international community.”
He added that such actions represent a “flagrant violation” of international law.
“The action recalls the worst moments of interference in the politics of Latin America and the Caribbean and threatens the preservation of the region as a zone of peace,” Lula wrote.
Mexico, Chile and Uruguay said they don’t support foreign military interventions, Reuters reported.
“Mexico emphatically reiterates that dialogue and negotiation are the only legitimate and effective means of resolving existing differences, and therefore reaffirms its willingness to support any efforts to facilitate dialogue, mediation, or accompaniment that contribute to preserving regional peace and avoiding confrontation,” Mexico’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said, adding that it “condemns” and “rejects” the U.S. military actions carried out unilaterally.”
Meanwhile, Trump supporters in Argentina and Ecuador expressed a different point of view; they support the developments.
Argentinian President Javier Milei, a right-wing Trump ally, spoke out in support of the developments. “VIVA LA LIBERTAD CARAJO,” he wrote on X, which translates to “freedom moves forward. Long live freedom dammit.” Milei has repeated the slogan previously.
Ecuador’s president, Gabriel Noboa, also posted on X in Spanish, saying that “time is coming for all the narco-Chavista criminals.”
Around the world, reactions vary, too
Big players on the global stage reacted in the early hours, with Russia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry saying it’s “extremely concerned” by Maduro’s capture, calling it a “grave violation of sovereignty and international law.”
“The US committed an act of armed aggression against Venezuela, which gives rise to deep concern & warrants condemnation,” the ministry said on X. “The pretexts used to justify these actions are untenable.”
Iran and China, two American adversaries, spoke out strongly against the situation.
“What matters is that when a person realizes the enemy is arrogantly trying to impose something on the country, on the officials, on the government, and on the nation, one must stand firmly against the enemy and bare one’s chest in resistance. We will not yield to the enemy.” Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said, according to Reuters.
Meanwhile, China expressed “shock” and also condemned such use of force.
Traditional allies of the U.S. were softer in their response, instead opting to call for restraint and the rule of law.
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Images provided by The Canadian Press, Reuters and Getty Images
European Union officials stopped short of condemning Trump’s actions and instead said they’re closely monitoring the situation.
“I have spoken with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and our ambassador in Caracas. The EU is closely monitoring the situation in Venezuela,” said Kaja Kallas, the EU representative for foreign affairs. “The EU has repeatedly stated that Mr. Maduro lacks legitimacy and has defended a peaceful transition. Under all circumstances, the principles of international law and the UN Charter must be respected. We call for restraint.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed Kallas’s statement.
“Following very closely the situation in Venezuela. We stand by the people of Venezuela and support a peaceful and democratic transition. Any solution must respect international law and the UN Charter.”
In Spain, where some Venezuelans celebrated the capture of Maduro, the Foreign Affairs Ministry called “for de-escalation and moderation, and for action to always be taken in accordance with international law and the principles of the UN Charter.”
Several countries, including Italy and Poland, have confirmed that they’re in touch with embassies on the ground to support their citizens currently in Venezuela.
