US Seizure of Maduro Sparks Global Divide, Raises International Law Questions

US Seizure of Maduro Sparks Global Divide, Raises International Law Questions

Global leaders have reacted with sharp divisions following the US military capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, with responses ranging from outright condemnation to cautious approval, raising fresh concerns about international law, sovereignty, and regional stability.

Maduro and his wife were seized by US forces on Saturday after what Washington described as a large-scale strike on Venezuela. The couple were flown out of the country and are expected to face drug trafficking charges in New York, according to US authorities.

US President Donald Trump said Washington would effectively “run” Venezuela until a “safe, proper and judicious transition” could be achieved, a statement that has fuelled global debate over the legality and consequences of the intervention.

The United Kingdom stopped short of condemning the action. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK would “shed no tears” over the collapse of Maduro’s government, reiterating Britain’s long-held position that Maduro lacked democratic legitimacy. However, he declined to say whether the US operation violated international law, stressing that the UK was not involved in the strike.

Across Latin America, reactions were largely critical. Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva warned that the attack crossed “an unacceptable line” and risked plunging the world into “violence, chaos, and instability.” Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro described the operation as an assault on regional sovereignty, while Chile’s President Gabriel Boric called for a peaceful resolution to Venezuela’s crisis.

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Venezuela’s allies were even more forceful. China said it was “deeply shocked and strongly condemns” the use of force against a sovereign nation, while Russia accused the US of “armed aggression.” Iran labelled the strikes a “flagrant violation” of Venezuelan sovereignty.

In Havana, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel denounced the strike as a “criminal attack,” while Uruguay said it was monitoring developments with “serious concern” and reiterated its rejection of military intervention. Venezuela’s Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello urged citizens to remain calm and called on the international community to speak out against the attack.

Some leaders, however, voiced support. Argentina’s President Javier Milei, a close ally of Trump, celebrated the development on social media, writing: “Freedom moves forward. Long live freedom.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Trump on what he called “bold and historic leadership on behalf of freedom and justice.”

Within Europe, reactions were mixed. French President Emmanuel Macron and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas both reiterated that Maduro lacked legitimacy but stressed that any transition must be peaceful, democratic, and respectful of international law. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the legality of the US action was “complex” and warned against political instability in Venezuela.

At the United Nations, Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern, warning that the strikes could set a “dangerous precedent” and urging all parties to pursue dialogue in line with human rights and the rule of law.

In the United States, domestic criticism also emerged. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said that while Maduro was an illegitimate dictator, launching military action without congressional authorisation or a clear post-conflict plan was “reckless.”

As diplomatic fallout continues, the capture of Nicolás Maduro has intensified global debate over US intervention, regime change, and the future of Venezuela’s political transition.

US Seizure of Maduro Sparks Global Divide, Raises International Law Questions

BBC