'Hegemonic behaviour': Maduro gets support from LatAm to Moscow, but Trump too gets praise from allies

The United States on Saturday announced a dramatic escalation in its actions against Venezuela, saying it had carried out a “large-scale strike” and captured the country’s President Nicolas Maduro. The development follows weeks of heightened tension, during which Venezuelans had feared a direct military intervention.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed that Maduro and his wife had been “captured and flown out of the country” following the operation, which he said was conducted “in conjunction with US law enforcement”.

Washington carried out strikes inside Venezuela early on Saturday, marking a sharp and unprecedented turn in the standoff between the two countries.

US officials hail ‘new dawn’

In a statement on X, US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau described the situation as a turning point for Venezuela.

“Venezuela was experiencing a ‘new dawn’,” Landau said, adding: “The tyrant is gone. He will now – finally – face justice for his crimes.”

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Venezuela condemns ‘extremely serious military aggression’

Shortly after the US bombings, Maduro’s government issued a strong condemnation, accusing Washington of carrying out an unlawful attack.

“Venezuela rejects, repudiates, and denounces before the international community the extremely serious military aggression perpetrated by the current government of the United States of America against Venezuelan territory and people,” the Venezuelan government said.

China condemns use of force

China’s foreign ministry said Beijing was “deeply shocked and strongly condemns the use of force by the US against a sovereign country and the use of force against the president of a country”.

“China firmly opposes such hegemonic behaviour by the US, which seriously violates international law, violates Venezuela’s sovereignty, and threatens peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean. We urge the US to abide by international law and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and stop violating the sovereignty and security of other countries,” it said.

Iran denounces US attack

In a statement posted on X, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wrote, “What’s important is when one realises an enemy wants to force something on one’s govt. or nation with false claims, they must stand firmly against that enemy.”

“We won’t give in to them. With reliance on God & confidence in the people’s support, we’ll bring the enemy to its knees,” he added.

In a separate statement, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it “strongly condemns the American military attack on Venezuela and the flagrant violation of the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country”.

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Russia warns against further escalation

Russia said it was deeply concerned and condemned an “act of armed aggression” against Venezuela committed by the US, according to a statement from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“In the current situation, it is important … to prevent further escalation and to focus on finding a way out of the situation through dialogue,” the ministry said.

The ministry added, “Venezuela must be guaranteed the right to determine its own destiny without any destructive, military intervention from outside.”

It reaffirmed “our solidarity with the Venezuelan people and our support for its leadership’s policy of defending the country’s national interests and sovereignty”.

Russia also said it was “extremely concerned” about the capture of Maduro and his wife, adding that if such actions took place they “constitute an unacceptable violation of the sovereignty of an independent state”.

Colombia calls for peace and respect for international law

Colombian President Gustavo Petro reacted on X, writing: “Alerting the whole world that they have attacked Venezuela.”

“The Republic of Colombia reiterates its conviction that peace, respect for international law, and the protection of life and human dignity must prevail over any form of armed confrontation,” Petro said.

In a separate post, he said Colombia “rejects the aggression against the sovereignty of Venezuela and of Latin America”. Petro later announced the deployment of military forces to the Venezuelan border.

Cuba accuses US of ‘state terrorism’

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel issued a sharply worded condemnation on social media, accusing Washington of carrying out a “criminal attack” against Venezuela and calling for an urgent international response.

In a post on X, Diaz-Canel said Cuba’s so-called “zone of peace” was being “brutally assaulted”, describing the US action as “state terrorism” directed not only at the Venezuelan people but at “Our America” more broadly.

He ended his statement with the revolutionary slogan: “Homeland or Death, We Shall Overcome.”

In a separate statement posted by various Cuban embassies around the world, Havana said it “denounces the US military attack against Venezuela” and “demands an urgent reaction from the international community”, again describing the attack as “state terrorism”.

Chile urges peaceful solution

Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font said his government expressed “concern and condemnation” over the US military actions in Venezuela.

“We call for seeking a peaceful solution to the serious crisis affecting the country,” he said.

“Chile reaffirms its commitment to basic principles of International Law, such as the prohibition of the use of force, non-intervention, the peaceful settlement of international disputes, and the territorial integrity of States. The Venezuelan crisis must be resolved through dialogue and the support of multilateralism, and not through violence or foreign interference.”

Mexico condemns military intervention

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on X: “Mexico condemns the military intervention in Venezuela.”

She also cited an article of the UN Charter stating: “The Members of the Organization, in their international relations, shall refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.”

Brazil says US crossed ‘unacceptable line’

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva condemned the US bombings and the capture of Maduro, saying they crossed “an unacceptable line”.

“Attacking countries, in flagrant violation of international law, is the first step toward a world of violence, chaos, and instability, where the law of the strongest prevails over multilateralism,” Lula wrote on X.

He added that the US attacks recalled the “worst moments of interference” in Latin American politics and threatened peace across the region, saying the international community, through the United Nations, “needs to respond vigorously to this episode”.

Bolivia expresses support for Venezuela

Bolivia’s foreign ministry said it “expresses its firm and immediate support for the Venezuelan people in the ongoing process of restoring their democracy, reinstating constitutional order, and fully guaranteeing human rights”.

“Bolivia reiterates its commitment to peace, democracy, and coordination with the international community for humanitarian assistance, the protection of the civilian population, and support for a credible and lasting process of institutional reconstruction,” the statement said.

UNSC reacts 

The UN Security Council has announced that it will hold an emergency meeting tomorrow to discuss the US operation in Venezuela. The meeting has been convened at the request of Colombia, a non-permanent member of the Council, and was supported by permanent members China and Russia.