Global leaders denounce US attack on Venezuela

Global leaders took to social media early on Jan 3 to condemn a

US attack carried out in Venezuela

.

Russia, Colombia, Cuba and Mexico all rejected the military action by the US in the South American nation.

Russia said it prompted “deep concern and condemnation”, according to a statement from its Foreign Ministry.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro said on social media platform X that he was seeking a meeting of the United Nations Security Council – a call supported by Russia and Mexico – and rejected “the aggression against the sovereignty of Venezuela and of Latin America”. 

Echoing Mr Petro, Cuba’s leader Miguel Diaz-Canel called for an “urgent” response from the international community against what he described as a “criminal attack”.

Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said he held a telephone call with his Brazilian counterpart Mauro Vieira, who condemned the US action. 

US President Donald Trump said the US had captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and flown him out of Venezuela following a series of air strikes.

The first explosions in the capital were heard around 2am local time (2pm Singapore time), and aircraft could be seen and heard overhead for hours, according to residents. Multiple blasts were centred on the Fuerte Tiuna military base in Caracas. 

Mr Trump is scheduled to hold a press conference at 11am US time at Mar-a-Lago, his estate in Palm Beach, Florida.

Any change in government in Venezuela is likely to have a significant impact across the region.

Countries south of Venezuela have seen a massive inflow of migrants fleeing Mr Maduro’s regime, with several South American leaders seeking ways to manage border crossings. 

Argentina’s President Javier Milei, his Bolivian counterpart Rodrigo Paz, Chile’s incoming President Jose Antonio Kast and Peru’s leader Jose Jeri have all spoken out against what they call Mr Maduro’s illegitimate grip on power and expressed concern over irregular migration.

The 15-member Caribbean Community, known as CARICOM, said it held an emergency meeting on Jan 3 to discuss the attack and assess the “possible implications for neighbouring countries”.

CARICOM members have warned that instability in Venezuela could trigger a wave of migration that would overwhelm their small island nations.

Colombia’s Defence Minister Pedro Sanchez said on X that the country had activated a unified command centre and a border security plan in Cucuta to provide humanitarian aid to migrants.

Some regional leaders, however, welcomed the intervention.

Argentina’s Mr Milei celebrated Mr Maduro’s capture by posting his signature slogan, “Long Live Freedom, Dammit!”, in reply to a report on X about the Venezuelan leader’s arrest. Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa said on social media that the structure of “Chavista narco-criminals” would collapse across the continent and expressed support for Venezuela’s opposition leaders Edmundo Gonzalez and Maria Corina Machado.

Mr Milei, Mr Noboa and other right-wing leaders in the region have long rejected Mr Maduro’s rise to power as undemocratic.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc is closely monitoring the situation in Venezuela, according to a post on X, reiterating that Mr Maduro “lacks legitimacy” while stressing the EU’s support for “a peaceful transition”.

Later in the day, European Council president Antonio Costa called for de-escalation.

In the US, some Democratic lawmakers also criticised the military operation before Mr Maduro’s capture was announced.

“This war is illegal. It’s embarrassing that we went from being the world’s cop to the world’s bully in less than one year,” said Senator Ruben Gallego of Arizona. “There is no reason for us to be at war with Venezuela.” BLOOMBERG