Global condemnation follows U.S. strike on Venezuela

(MENAFN) The U.S. military strike in Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolas Maduro has sparked widespread alarm and condemnation around the world. Observers report that the operation has raised serious concerns over international law, regional stability, and the future of global security.

U.S. President Donald Trump described the mission as a “large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country.” He framed the action as coordinated with U.S. law enforcement and added, “We're going to run” Venezuela until a time for transition, though he offered no specific timeline.

Venezuelan authorities denounced the operation as “brutal, unjustified and unilateral” and labeled it a “crime of aggression,” calling for an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting to address the incident.

International reactions highlighted deep concern over the implications of the strike. Leaders from multiple countries warned that the operation sets a dangerous precedent. One European head of state stressed, “Any attack on a sovereign state and its representative without a mandate from the United Nations Security Council constitutes a serious violation of international law,” adding that such actions “may destabilize other regions of the world as well.”

Another European official stated that the strike reflects the “collapse of the postwar world order” and condemned it as a dismantling of international law. A French minister warned that such actions erode global legal frameworks and could have “serious consequences for global security, which will spare no one.”

Concerns over regional stability were echoed in South America. Brazil’s ruling party called the strikes “the most serious international aggression recorded in South America in the 21st century” and condemned the “kidnapping” of the Venezuelan president and his wife. The party urged a peaceful resolution through multilateral frameworks, stressing that “Latin America must remain a zone of peace.”

Human rights and international organizations also called for restraint. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights emphasized de-escalation, urging, “We urge everyone to exercise restraint and fully respect the UN Charter and international human rights law. The protection of people in Venezuela is paramount and must guide any further action.”

French and other leaders stressed that no political solution can be imposed from outside. As one stated, “The upcoming transition must be peaceful, democratic, and respectful of the will of the Venezuelan people.” Similarly, the African Union urged all parties to act responsibly, respect international law, and seek an inclusive political dialogue among Venezuelans themselves to resolve the country’s internal challenges.

MENAFN04012026000045017640ID1110552988