U.S. President Donald Trump introduced early Saturday morning that the USA had launched airstrikes in Venezuela and captured the nation’s president, Nicolás Maduro. The operation culminates a monthslong U.S. military 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 in opposition to Colombia, Cuba, and Mexico.
International leaders struck a blended 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 have been equally cut up: Trump allies counseled 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 referred to 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 won Venezuela’s disputed 2024 presidential election, to guide a transitional authorities as a substitute of U.S. forces.
Beneath, 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, referred to as on the White Home to supply 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 predict 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 got fought for years, we have now given it our all, and it has been value it. What was meant to occur is occurring.”
In her letter, Machado urged Venezuelans to “stay vigilant, lively, and arranged till the democratic transition is full.” Throughout his Saturday information convention, nonetheless, Trump stopped short 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 recollects 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 deal with 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 a statement: “The Authorities of Mexico strongly condemns and rejects the navy actions carried out unilaterally in latest hours by armed forces of the USA of America in opposition to 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 respectable needs of the Venezuelan individuals, 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 by way of Getty Photos
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel on X: “#Cuba denounces and urgently calls for the response of the worldwide group in opposition to 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 your complete continent.”
Argentine President Javier Milei to local 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. … In the present day’s information is good news for the free world.”
Different Leaders
U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric stated in a statement that U.N. Secretary-Normal António Guterres is “deeply alarmed by the latest escalation in Venezuela. … The Secretary-Normal 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 in opposition to a sovereign state and motion in opposition to its president. Such hegemonic acts of the U.S. significantly 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 a statement: The USA “dedicated an act of armed aggression in opposition to Venezuela. This improvement provides 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 said that Mr Maduro lacks legitimacy and has defended a peaceable transition. Underneath all circumstances, the ideas 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 individuals. 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 USA. 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 advanced. We’ll 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 anticipate, we’re specializing in British nationals in Venezuela. … I’ll need to discuss to allies, however for the time being, we have to set up the information.”
Ukrainian International Minister Andrii Sybiha on X: “Ukraine has persistently defended the appropriate of countries to stay freely, freed from dictatorship, oppression, and human rights violations. The Maduro regime has violated all such ideas in each respect. … The individuals of Venezuela should have an opportunity for a traditional life, safety, prosperity, and human dignity.”
Canadian International Minister Anita Anand in a statement: “Canada calls on all events to respect worldwide legislation and we stand by the individuals of Venezuela and their want to stay 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 a statement: “The U.S. navy assault on Venezuela constitutes a transparent violation of the elemental ideas of the United Nations Constitution and the essential guidelines of worldwide legislation.”
A spokesperson for South Africa’s Division of Worldwide Relations and Cooperation in a statement: “South Africa calls on [the U.N. Security Council], the physique mandated to take care of worldwide peace and safety, to urgently convene to handle this case.”
