The international community reacted with a mix of celebration, caution, and outright condemnation on Saturday, January 3, 2026, following a large-scale U.S. military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
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U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Washington would temporarily “run the country” until a transition is completed, a declaration that immediately triggered strong global reactions.
Several world leaders described the U.S. action as a violation of international law and national sovereignty.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep alarm, warning that the operation sets a “dangerous precedent” and undermines the principles of the UN Charter.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called the intervention a grave affront to sovereignty, while Colombian President Gustavo Petro condemned the action and ordered troops to the border in anticipation of possible refugee movements.
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum strongly condemned the unilateral use of force, and Chilean President Gabriel Boric urged dialogue, insisting that Venezuela’s crisis must not be resolved through foreign military intervention.
Russia denounced the operation as armed aggression, while China and Iran criticised what they described as blatant hegemonic use of force.
Other leaders welcomed the fall of Maduro but stressed the need for legality and stability.
Argentine President Javier Milei hailed the development as “excellent news for the free world,” celebrating the end of what he called a socialist dictatorship.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated President Trump for what he described as bold and historic leadership in removing a dictator.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK would “shed no tears” for the collapse of Maduro’s rule but emphasised that international law and democratic norms must still be respected.
The European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, reiterated that Maduro lacks democratic legitimacy, while calling for restraint and a peaceful, democratic transition.
French President Emmanuel Macron also welcomed the end of Maduro’s rule, stating that the Venezuelan people have been liberated from a dictatorship and have every reason to celebrate. Macron said Maduro’s seizure of power and repeated violations of fundamental freedoms constituted a grave affront to the dignity of the Venezuelan people.
He stressed that the transition now opening must be peaceful, democratic, and fully respectful of the will of the Venezuelan people, expressing hope that Edmundo González Urrutia, elected in 2024, would be able to ensure a swift and legitimate transition. Macron added that France is actively consulting with regional partners and remains fully mobilised and vigilant, particularly to ensure the safety of French citizens amid the unfolding uncertainty.
Within Venezuela, reactions remain sharply divided.
Opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado declared that “the hour of freedom has arrived,” welcoming the U.S. operation and saying Maduro would now face international justice for what she described as atrocious crimes.
However, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who has been sworn in as interim president, rejected the legitimacy of the operation, calling Maduro’s capture a “kidnapping” and insisting he remains the only legitimate president of Venezuela.
Rodríguez vowed that Venezuela would never become a “colony of any nation,” demanded the immediate release of Maduro and his wife, and accused the United States of launching an unprecedented military aggression aimed at regime change and seizing Venezuela’s vast oil resources.
As Maduro is reportedly en route to the United States to face trial on charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation, and weapons offences, the global debate over legality, sovereignty, and the future of Venezuela continues to intensify.
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