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. military campaign geared 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.
Overseas leaders struck a combined tone within the aftermath, with some praising the U.S. operation and expressing assist 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 quick 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. stress 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 unbiased vote screens say rightfully won Venezuela’s disputed 2024 presidential election, to steer 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 RodrĂguez, subsequent within the line of succession, known 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 quick launch of Nicolás Maduro,” RodrĂguez mentioned on a state broadcast.
This contrasted with Trump’s characterization of RodrĂguez; he mentioned on Saturday that RodrĂguez was “keen to do what we expect is critical to make Venezuela nice once more.”
In the meantime, Venezuelan opposition chief MarĂa 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 simply accept a negotiated answer, the U.S. authorities has fulfilled its promise to implement the legislation,” Machado added. “We’ve fought for years, now we have given it our all, and it has been price 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 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 Overseas 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 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 official 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 assist of Maduro in Havana on Jan. 3, after U.S. forces captured him. Adalberto Roque/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
Cuban President Miguel DĂaz-Canel on X: “#Cuba denounces and urgently calls for the response of the worldwide group towards the legal 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 now we have to know 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. … Immediately’s information is good news for the free world.”
Different Leaders
U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric mentioned 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 Overseas Affairs on X: “China is deeply shocked by and strongly condemns the U.S.’s blatant use of pressure towards a sovereign state and motion towards its president. Such hegemonic acts of the U.S. severely violate worldwide legislation and Venezuela’s sovereignty, and threaten peace and safety in Latin America and the Caribbean area.”
Russia’s Ministry of Overseas Affairs in a statement: The USA “dedicated an act of armed aggression towards 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 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.Ok. was not concerned in any means on this operation, and as you’ll anticipate, we’re specializing in British nationals in Venezuela. … I’ll need to speak to allies, however in the intervening time, we have to set up the details.”
Ukrainian Overseas Minister Andrii Sybiha on X: “Ukraine has persistently defended the suitable 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 will need to have an opportunity for a standard life, safety, prosperity, and human dignity.”
Canadian Overseas Minister Anita Anand in a statement: “Canada calls on all events to respect worldwide legislation and we stand by the folks of Venezuela and their need to reside in a peaceable and democratic society.”
Israeli Overseas Minister Gideon Saar on X: “Israel welcomes the elimination of the dictator who led a community of medicine and terror and hopes for the return of democracy to the nation and for pleasant relations between the states.”
Iran’s Ministry of Overseas Affairs in a statement: “The U.S. navy assault on Venezuela constitutes a transparent violation of the elemental rules 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 example.”
