WORLD LEADERS DIVIDED OVER U.S STRIKE, ARREST OF VENEZUELA’S PRESIDENT MADURO
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Agency report
World leaders across the globe have continued to weigh in on the United States’ strike in Venezuela and the arrest of the country’s leader, Nicolas Maduro, with reactions sharply divided.
From Asia to Europe and Latin America, responses to the operation have ranged from outright condemnation to cautious defence.
United Nations
The United Nations Security Council is set to convene an emergency meeting on Monday to deliberate on the US operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, according to the Somali presidency of the Council.
The meeting, scheduled for 10:00 am (1500 GMT), was requested by Venezuela and communicated through Colombia, diplomatic sources told AFP on Saturday.
Russia
Russia on Saturday called on Washington to free Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife following what it described as their surprise arrest by US forces.
“We strongly urge the American leadership to reconsider its position and release the legally elected president of the sovereign country and his wife,” the Russian foreign ministry said.
Italy
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni defended the US military action, describing it as a legitimate act of defence, while stressing that external force should not be used to effect regime change.
“The government believes that external military action is not the way to end totalitarian regimes, but at the same time considers defensive intervention against hybrid attacks on its security to be legitimate, as in the case of state entities that fuel and promote drug trafficking,” the far-right leader and ally of US President Donald Trump said in a statement.
France
France condemned the American operation that resulted in Maduro’s capture, warning that it undermines international law and that Venezuela’s crisis cannot be resolved through external force.
Maduro “gravely violated” the rights of Venezuelans, but the military action that led to his arrest “contravenes the principle of non-use of force, which underpins international law”, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot wrote on X.
“No lasting political solution can be imposed from the outside”, he said, cautioning that “the increasing violations” of this principle by permanent members of the UN Security Council “will have serious consequences for global security, sparing no one”.
Turkey
Turkey urged restraint on Saturday following the capture of Venezuela’s leader by US forces and the bombing of Caracas.
“In order to prevent the current situation from leading to negative consequences for regional and international security, we call on all parties to act with restraint,” the foreign ministry said.
Brazil
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva strongly criticised the US action, describing it as a violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty.
“The bombings in Venezuelan territory and the capture of its president cross an unacceptable line,” the left-wing leader wrote on X, warning that they threaten “the preservation of the region as a zone of peace.”
He also called on the international community, through the United Nations, to “respond vigorously” to the attacks.
China
China said it firmly opposes the US military strike and the detention of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, calling the move a breach of international law.
“China is deeply shocked and strongly condemns the US’s blatant use of force against a sovereign state and its action against its president,” the Chinese foreign ministry said.
“Such hegemonic behaviour by the US seriously violates international law, infringes upon Venezuela’s sovereignty, and threatens peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean. China firmly opposes it,” it added.
United Kingdom
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said all nations must “uphold international law” after US President Donald Trump announced that American forces had captured Maduro during a large-scale operation.
Describing the situation as “fast-moving”, Starmer stressed that “the UK was not involved in any way in this operation” and called for patience to “establish the facts”.
“I want to speak to President Trump, I want to speak to allies,” he said in comments aired on UK television.
“I can be absolutely clear that we were not involved in that. And as you know, I always say and believe we should all uphold international law.”
He added that “hopefully more information will come out” when Trump addresses the situation at a press conference later on Saturday.
Germany
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Maduro had “led his country to ruin” following the US raid in Caracas.
Merz noted that Germany had not recognised Venezuela’s last election, describing it as “rigged”, and accused Maduro of playing “a problematic role in the region”, including by “entangling Venezuela in the drug trade”.
However, he said the legal implications of the US operation were “complex” and stressed that “the principles of international law must apply in relations between states”.
“Political instability must not be allowed to arise in Venezuela now,” he added.
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