The international order has been shaken by a unilateral US military operation that saw airstrikes hit Venezuela’s capital and resulted in the detention of President Nicolás Maduro. World leaders from across Europe, Asia, and Latin America have condemned the Saturday action as an egregious violation of the principles that underpin peaceful international relations.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi has announced that both Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores will face criminal proceedings in New York on charges related to drug trafficking operations. President Trump confirmed the couple is being held on a naval vessel en route to the United States, bringing to a head six months of increasingly hostile relations between the two nations.
The UN’s chief diplomat António Guterres has warned through his spokesperson that the American action creates a dangerous template that could undermine the entire framework of international law. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot emphasized that military operations leading to the capture of a head of state violate core principles prohibiting the use of force between nations.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez offered a nuanced response, noting that while his government never recognized Maduro’s legitimacy, neither would it endorse actions that violate international law and destabilize the region. China issued stern warnings about hegemonic behavior, calling on Washington to respect sovereignty and cease violations of other countries’ security.
The regional response has fractured along ideological lines, with right-wing leaders like Argentina’s Javier Milei celebrating while leftist presidents across Colombia, Mexico, Chile, and Brazil issued condemnations. Security experts have raised questions about whether removing Maduro will genuinely transform Venezuela’s political system or merely shuffle leadership within the existing power structure, while Colombia prepares for potential refugee movements across its border.