World Leaders React To US Strike In Venezuela, Maduro’s Capture
World leaders are sharply divided following the US military strike in Venezuela and the arrest of President Nicolas Maduro, an operation that comes after months of mounting economic and military pressure on Caracas.
The United Nations Security Council is set to hold an emergency meeting on Monday at Venezuela’s request to discuss the operation, raising concerns about sovereignty and the use of force.
Russia demanded the immediate release of Maduro and his wife, calling the arrest illegal and an attack on a sovereign state.
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni defended the US action as a form of legitimate defence, while stressing that military force should not be used to impose regime change.
France condemned the operation, warning it violates international law and insisting that no lasting political solution can be imposed from outside Venezuela.
Turkey urged all parties to exercise restraint to prevent the crisis from escalating into a wider regional or global security threat.
In Latin America, Brazil’s President Lula da Silva described the strike as a serious affront to Venezuela’s sovereignty and called on the UN to respond decisively.
China strongly opposed the US action, accusing Washington of violating international law and threatening peace in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The United Kingdom distanced itself from the operation, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer stressing that Britain was not involved and calling on all nations to uphold international law.
Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Maduro had led Venezuela to ruin but acknowledged that the legality of the US action is complex, warning against further instability in the country.
As reactions continue to pour in, the crisis has intensified global debate over sovereignty, international law, and the limits of foreign military intervention.