The US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife drew mixed reactions from world leaders, with all making the same call: a “peaceful transition” coupled with “dialogue and diplomacy”.
The US Army launched a military operation early Saturday and captured Maduro and his wife from Caracas. Both were flown out of Venezuela and brought to New York City late at night. Follow live updates on US attacks on Venezuela
Maduro has been convicted along with his wife, his son and three others. The Venezuelan President has been convicted on four counts: narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.
Meanwhile, India did not give any concrete reaction on Maduro’s capture, but issued a statement advice to its citizens Given the tense situations in Venezuela. “In view of the recent developments in Venezuela, Indian nationals are strongly advised to avoid all non-essential travel to Venezuela,” the Ministry of External Affairs said.
How did world leaders react to Maduro’s arrest?
1. First, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer clarified that Britain was not involved in the US military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Celia Flores. All facts need to be established, he said, adding that he would like to talk with Trump and other allies to gain clarity on the situation.
Later in another X post, Starmer stressed that the UK has long supported regime change in Venezuela. “We considered Maduro an illegitimate president and we shed no tears over the end of his rule,” he said.
He said, “I reiterated my support for international law this morning. The UK Government will discuss the evolving situation with US counterparts in the coming days as we seek a safe and peaceful transition to a legitimate government that reflects the will of the Venezuelan people.”
2. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Trump for his “courageous and historic leadership” on behalf of freedom and justice. “I salute your decisive resolve and the brilliant action of your brave soldiers,” he said.
3. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government was monitoring developments in Venezuela, urging all parties to “support dialogue and diplomacy to secure regional stability and prevent further escalation.”
He said Australia has long-standing concerns about the situation in Venezuela, including the need to respect democratic principles, human rights and fundamental freedoms. Albanese said, “We will continue to support international law and a peaceful, democratic transition in Venezuela that reflects the will of the Venezuelan people.”
4. French President Emmanuel Macron said Venezuelans have “got rid of the dictatorship of Nicolas Maduro”, stressing that they can only rejoice in the moment.
Macron said Maduro had undermined the dignity of his own people by seizing power and crushing fundamental freedoms. “The coming transition must be peaceful, democratic, and respectful of the will of the Venezuelan people. We want President-elect Edmundo González Urrutia to ensure this transition happens swiftly in 2024,” he wrote in a post on Twitter.
5. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said his country does not recognize the regime of Nicolas Maduro, but at the same time, it will not recognize any intervention that violates international law. He called for fair and negotiated change.
“Spain does not recognize the Maduro regime. But neither will it recognize an intervention that violates international law and pushes the region towards the horizons of uncertainty and belligerence. We call on all actors to think about the civilian population, respect the UN Charter and articulate a fair and dialogical transition,” Sanchez wrote on X.
6. Russia’s Foreign Ministry initially said it was extremely concerned by reports of the capture of Maduro and his wife. Later, noting confirmed reports, the ministry said that Russia urges the US leadership to “reconsider its position and release the legitimately elected president of a sovereign country and her husband.”
It added, “We highlight the need to create conditions to resolve any existing issues between the United States and Venezuela through dialogue.”
7. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Nicolas Maduro had “led his country to ruin” after the US expelled the Venezuelan leader following a military operation in Caracas.
Merz further said that Germany did not recognize Venezuela’s previous election because it was “rigged”, adding that Maduro “played a problematic role in the region” by entangling Venezuela in the drug trade.
However, the German Chancellor also said that the legal aspects of the US actions were “complex”, and that in general, “the principles of international law should apply in relations between states”. “Political instability must no longer be allowed to arise in Venezuela,” he said.
8. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he is “deeply concerned” by recent tensions in Venezuela, adding that US military action could have potentially worrying implications for the region.
A statement from the spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General said, “Independent of the situation in Venezuela, these developments set a dangerous precedent. The Secretary-General continues to emphasize the importance of full respect by all for international law, including the UN Charter. He is deeply concerned that the rules of international law have not been respected.”
Guterres called on all Venezuelan actors to engage in “inclusive dialogue in full respect for human rights and the rule of law.”
9. China’s Foreign Ministry has expressed deep sorrow over the US military operation and the capture of Maduro and his wife. It strongly condemned “the use of force by the United States against a sovereign country and the use of force against the President of a country.”
10. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva met with X and said that the bombing of Venezuelan territory and Maduro’s occupation “crosses the line of unacceptable”. He described these acts as a “grave insult” to the Latin American country’s sovereignty and another extremely dangerous precedent for the entire international community.
Lula da Silva said, “Attacking countries in gross violation of international law is the first step towards a world of violence, anarchy and instability, where the rule of the strongest prevails over multilateralism.”
He further said that Brazil’s condemnation of the use of force is in line with its previous stance in recent situations in other countries.
He said, “This action is reminiscent of the worst moments of interference in the politics of Latin America and the Caribbean and jeopardizes the preservation of the region as a zone of peace. The international community, through the United Nations, needs to respond vigorously to this episode. Brazil condemns these actions and is available to promote paths of dialogue and cooperation.”
11. Italian President Giorgia Meloni said that Italy has never recognized Maduro’s regime and condemned his actions towards the Venezuelan people. However, he added that Italy believes that external military action is not the right path to end totalitarian regimes.
“Italy, along with key international partners, has never recognized Maduro’s self-proclaimed electoral victory, condemned the regime’s acts of repression and has always supported the Venezuelan people’s aspiration for democratic change,” Meloni said in a post on X.
He added, “In line with Italy’s historical position, the Government believes that external military action is not the way to end a totalitarian regime, but at the same time it considers as legitimate interventions of a defensive nature against hybrid attacks on its security, as is the case with state institutions that promote and support drug trafficking.”
Meloni said Italy continues to monitor the situation in Venezuela and pays attention to the Italian community in the country.
12. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Cybiha said that Nicolas Maduro’s regime violates all human rights principles and reaffirmed Kyiv’s stance in consistently defending the rights of nations to live freely, free from dictatorship and oppression.
Sibiha said, “Ukraine has consistently defended the right of nations to live freely, free from dictatorship, oppression and human rights violations. The Maduro regime has violated all such principles in every case. We stand for democracy, human rights and further development in accordance with the principles of international law, giving priority to the interests of Venezuela.”
Later, when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was asked about Maduro’s capture during a press conference, he said, “What can I say here? If this can be done to dictators, the United States knows what they should do next.”
