World reacts to US strike on Venezuela, Maduro’s capture

Countries across the globe have expressed caution towards the escalating situation in Venezuela after President Donald Trump said Saturday that US forces had captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro after launching a “large scale strike” on the South American country.

Iran

Iran condemned what it described as an American attack on Venezuela, after Caracas accused the United States of being behind explosions that rocked the capital.

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The Iranian foreign ministry in a statement said it “strongly condemns the American military attack on Venezuela and the flagrant violation of the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country.”

Washington has yet to comment on the blasts in Venezuela.

Germany

Germany’s foreign ministry said it was watching the situation ⁠in Venezuela with great concern and a crisis team was to meet ‍later for further discussion.

A ‍written communication ‍obtained ⁠by ‌Reuters said ⁠the ministry ‍was in close contact ⁠with the embassy in ‌Caracas and a crisis team would meet ‍later on Saturday.

Spain

Spain called ‍for de-escalation, moderation and respect for ⁠international law in Venezuela, the Spanish Foreign Ministry ‍said in ‍a ‍statement .

It also ⁠offered ‍itself as a ⁠negotiator to help ‌find a peaceful solution in ‍Venezuela.

Belgium

Belgium ‍is coordinating with European ‍partners in order to closely monitor the situation in Venezuela, ⁠the country’s foreign affairs minister said.

“Our embassy in Bogotá, which is ‍responsible for Venezuela, and our ‍services in ‍Brussels ⁠are ‌fully mobilized. ⁠The ‍situation is being closely monitored, ⁠in coordination with our European partners,” ‌Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister ‍Maxime Prevot said in a post on X.

Russia

Russia urged the US to release Maduro and his wife.

“In light of confirmed reports that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife are in the United States, we strongly urge the American leadership to reconsider its position and release the legally elected president of a sovereign country and his wife,” the foreign ministry said in the statement.

Brazil

Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva condemned the US military attack on neighbor Venezuela and the capture of Maduro, saying it crossed “an unacceptable line.”

“These acts represent a grave affront to Venezuela’s sovereignty and yet another extremely dangerous precedent for the entire international community,” Lula said in a post on X.

France

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the US military operation which resulted in the capture of Maduro went against the principles of international law.

“The military operation that led to the capture of Nicolas Maduro violates the principle of not resorting to force, that underpins international law. France reiterates that no lasting political solution can be imposed from the outside and that only sovereign people themselves can decide their future,” wrote Barrot on X.

Italy

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni defended the US military action in Venezuela, calling it legitimate “defense,” even as she said outside military force should not be used for 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 - an ally of Trump - said in a statement.

UN

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is “deeply alarmed” after Washington’s strikes on Venezuela, his spokesman said, saying it could “constitute a dangerous precedent.”

The UN chief is “deeply concerned that the rules of international law have not been respected,” spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement, adding that Guterres “calls on all actors in Venezuela to engage in inclusive dialogue, in full respect of human rights and the rule of law.”

China

China said it firmly opposes US military strikes on Venezuela and the capture of Maduro, calling it a violation 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,” Beijing’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

Britain

British Prime ‍Minister Keir Starmer said his ‍country was not involved in the United States’ strikes on Venezuela and ⁠that he wanted to speak with Trump and find out the full facts of what had happened.

“I ‍want to establish the facts ‍first. I ‍want to ⁠speak ‌to President Trump. ⁠I ‍want to speak to allies. ⁠I can be absolutely clear that we ‌were not involved ... and I always say and believe we should ‍all uphold international law,” he said in a statement to British broadcasters.

EU

The EU more generally expressed concern at the developments and urged respect for international law, even as it noted that Maduro “lacks legitimacy.”

Read more:

Venezuela blames explosions on US ‘military aggression’

Multiple explosions and low-flying aircraft heard in Venezuela capital

Trump administration aware of reported explosions in Venezuelan capital: CBS reporter