US arrest of Venezuela’s Maduro condemned by world leaders

The international community, including allies and enemies of the United States, condemned the US military attack on the Venezuelan capital of Caracas that resulted in the extraction of President Nicolas Maduro, together with wife Cilia Flores, who stand to face narcotics and terrorism charges in US soil.

While Maduro was blindfolded and handcuffed onboard a US naval ship, President Donald Trump said the US would “run” Venezuela, intending to tap its huge oil reserves.

Russia and Iran, who have long supported Maduro, condemned the American operation, while US allies France and the European Union shared the same alarm.

Russia — Russia demanded the US “reconsider its position and release the legally elected president of a sovereign country”.

China — “China is deeply shocked and strongly condemns the US’s blatant use of force against a sovereign state and its action against its president”.

Iran — Iran (bombed by the US last year) said it “strongly condemns the US military attack on Venezuela and a flagrant violation of the country’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity”.

Mexico — Mexico (threatened by Trump with military force over drug trafficking) strongly condemned the US military incursion in Venezuela, saying it “seriously jeopardizes regional stability.”

Colombia — President Gustavo Petro called the US action an “assault on the sovereignty” of Latin America which would lead to a humanitarian crisis.

Brazil — President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva slammed the attacks as a “serious affront” to Venezuela’s sovereignty.

Cuba — Cuba (strong ally of Venezuela) denounced “state terrorism against the brave Venezuelan people”.

Spain — Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the intervention “violates international law and pushes the region toward a horizon of uncertainty and militarism”.

France — France said the US operation undermined international law, and no solution to Venezuela’s crisis can be imposed externally.

Pres. Emmanuel Macron called for 2004 presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia to lead a political transition.

Germany — Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Maduro had “led his country to ruin”, but called the US action legally “complex”.

EU — EU expressed concern and urged respect for international law, as it noted that Maduro “lacks legitimacy”.

EU candidate country North Macedonia, along with Albania and Kosovo, backed Washington, however. “We stand with the United States and the Venezuelan people for freedom and democracy,” North Macedonia FM Timco Mucunski said on X.

Britain — Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK will discuss the “evolving situation” in Venezuela with US counterparts while noting Britain will “shed no tears” about the demise of Maduro’s “regime”.

Italy — In a rare expression of support for the US operation by a major European country, far-right Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni — a Trump ally — argued the US military action in Venezuela was “legitimate” and “defensive”.

Israel — Israel said Washington acted as the “leader of the free world”.

Ukraine — Ukraine — dependent on US support in its war against invading Russia — did not address the legality of America using military force against a much smaller one like Venezuela.

Foreign minister Andriy Sybiga instead focused on Maduro’s lack of legitimacy and the Venezuelan government’s repression, while backing “democracy, human rights, and the interests of Venezuelans”.

South Africa — South Africa (which Trump accused of alleged discrimination — and even “genocide” — of minority white Afrikaners) said, “Unlawful, unilateral force of this nature undermines the stability of the international order and the principle of equality among nations.”

UN — UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was “deeply alarmed” by the US strikes; his spokesman quoted him saying it could “constitute a dangerous precedent”.