U.S. President Donald Trump introduced early Saturday morning that the US had launched airstrikes in Venezuela and captured the nation’s president, Nicolás Maduro. The operation culminates a monthslong U.S. navy marketing campaign aimed toward regime change in Caracas.
In a information convention on Saturday, Trump refused to rule out the deployment of U.S. troops to Venezuela, claimed efficient management over the nation’s authorities and oil deposits, and issued related warnings towards Colombia, Cuba, and Mexico.
International leaders struck a combined tone within the aftermath, with some praising the U.S. operation and expressing help for democracy in Venezuela and others calling the assault a violation of worldwide legislation and Venezuelan sovereignty.
In Venezuela, Maduro’s second-in-command demanded the president’s rapid launch, whereas opposition leaders heralded U.S. involvement. Latin American leaders had been equally break up: Trump allies recommended the swift U.S. motion, and people already against the U.S. strain marketing campaign within the area reiterated their condemnation.
Leaders elsewhere have begun to weigh in on Venezuela’s future. Some powers have known as for an emergency session of the United Nations Safety Council in addition to the installment of Edmundo González, who impartial vote displays say rightfully gained Venezuela’s disputed 2024 presidential election, to guide a transitional authorities as a substitute of U.S. forces.
Under, we’ve tracked how the world is responding to the U.S. operation—inside Venezuela, in Latin America, and past.
Venezuela
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, subsequent within the line of succession, known as on the White Home to offer proof of life of Maduro and urged Venezuelans to take to the streets in protest. “We demand the rapid launch of Nicolás Maduro,” Rodríguez stated on a state broadcast.
This contrasted with Trump’s characterization of Rodríguez; he stated on Saturday that Rodríguez was “prepared to do what we expect is critical to make Venezuela nice once more.”
In the meantime, Venezuelan opposition chief María Corina Machado struck a triumphant tone, writing in a letter posted on X that “the time for freedom has come!” Going ahead, Maduro will face “worldwide justice” for his “atrocious crimes,” she wrote.
“Given [Maduro’s] refusal to just accept a negotiated resolution, the U.S. authorities has fulfilled its promise to implement the legislation,” Machado added. “We’ve fought for years, we have now given it our all, and it has been value it. What was meant to occur is going on.”
In her letter, Machado urged Venezuelans to “stay vigilant, lively, and arranged till the democratic transition is full.” Throughout his Saturday information convention, nevertheless, Trump stopped in need of backing Machado.
Latin America
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on X: “The bombings on Venezuelan territory and the seize of its president cross an unacceptable line. … The motion remembers the worst moments of interference within the politics of Latin America and the Caribbean and threatens the preservation of the area as a zone of peace.”
Colombian President Gustavo Petro on X: “The Nationwide Authorities has organized measures to guard the civilian inhabitants, protect stability on the Colombian-Venezuelan border, and promptly tackle any eventual humanitarian or migratory wants, in coordination with native authorities and competent organizations.”
A person holds a placard studying “Yankees out” in Spanish as protesters collect outdoors the U.S. Embassy in Mexico Metropolis on Jan. 3, after information of the Venezuela assault.Toya Sarno Jordan/Reuters
Mexico’s Ministry of International Affairs in an announcement: “The Authorities of Mexico strongly condemns and rejects the navy actions carried out unilaterally in current hours by armed forces of the US of America towards targets within the territory of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in clear violation of Article 2 of the Constitution of the United Nations.”
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino on X: “My authorities reiterates our place in favor of democratic trials and in favor of accepting the reputable needs of the Venezuelan folks, as expressed emphatically on the polls, the place Edmundo González was elected.”
Cubans maintain a Venezuelan nationwide flag alongside a Cuban one throughout a gathering in help of Maduro in Havana on Jan. 3, after U.S. forces captured him. Adalberto Roque/AFP through Getty Photos
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel on X: “#Cuba denounces and urgently calls for the response of the worldwide neighborhood towards the prison assault by the U.S. on #Venezuela. … Our #ZonaDePaz [Zone of Peace] is being brutally assaulted.”
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa on X: “To all of the narco chavista criminals, your time is coming. … Your construction will fully collapse throughout the complete continent.”
Argentine President Javier Milei to native media: “What we have now to grasp is that it’s the collapse of the regime of a dictator that was rigging elections, that within the final election was badly defeated and, regardless of that, he clung on to energy. … Right now’s information is good news for the free world.”
Different Leaders
U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric stated in a assertion that U.N. Secretary-Basic António Guterres is “deeply alarmed by the current escalation in Venezuela. … The Secretary-Basic continues to emphasise the significance of full respect—by all—of worldwide legislation, together with the UN Constitution.”
A spokesperson for China’s Ministry of International Affairs on X: “China is deeply shocked by and strongly condemns the U.S.’s blatant use of power towards a sovereign state and motion towards its president. Such hegemonic acts of the U.S. critically violate worldwide legislation and Venezuela’s sovereignty, and threaten peace and safety in Latin America and the Caribbean area.”
Russia’s Ministry of International Affairs in an announcement: The US “dedicated an act of armed aggression towards Venezuela. This improvement offers rise to deep concern and warrants condemnation. The pretexts used to justify these actions are untenable.”
EU foreign-policy chief Kaja Kallas on X: “The EU has repeatedly acknowledged that Mr Maduro lacks legitimacy and has defended a peaceable transition. Underneath all circumstances, the rules of worldwide legislation and the UN Constitution should be revered. We name for restraint.”
French President Emmanuel Macron on X: “The upcoming transition should be peaceable, democratic, and respectful of the need of the Venezuelan folks. We want that President Edmundo González Urrutia, elected in 2024, can swiftly guarantee this transition.”
Folks maintain a determine depicting Maduro in Madrid on Jan. 3, as they react to information of his seize by the US. Violeta Santos Moura/Reuters
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on X: “Spain didn’t acknowledge the Maduro regime. However neither will it acknowledge an intervention that violates worldwide legislation and pushes the area towards a horizon of uncertainty and belligerence.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on X: “The authorized classification of the U.S. deployment is complicated. We are going to take our time with that. The benchmark stays worldwide legislation.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to British broadcasters: “The U.Okay. was not concerned in any method on this operation, and as you’d count on, we’re specializing in British nationals in Venezuela. … I’ll wish to speak to allies, however in the mean time, we have to set up the details.”
Ukrainian International Minister Andrii Sybiha on X: “Ukraine has constantly defended the precise of countries to reside freely, freed from dictatorship, oppression, and human rights violations. The Maduro regime has violated all such rules in each respect. … The folks of Venezuela should have an opportunity for a standard life, safety, prosperity, and human dignity.”
Canadian International Minister Anita Anand in an announcement: “Canada calls on all events to respect worldwide legislation and we stand by the folks of Venezuela and their want to reside in a peaceable and democratic society.”
Israeli International Minister Gideon Saar on X: “Israel welcomes the elimination of the dictator who led a community of medication and terror and hopes for the return of democracy to the nation and for pleasant relations between the states.”
Iran’s Ministry of International Affairs in an announcement: “The U.S. navy assault on Venezuela constitutes a transparent violation of the elemental rules of the United Nations Constitution and the fundamental guidelines of worldwide legislation.”
A spokesperson for South Africa’s Division of Worldwide Relations and Cooperation in an announcement: “South Africa calls on [the U.N. Security Council], the physique mandated to keep up worldwide peace and safety, to urgently convene to handle this case.”
