Trump Administration’s Capture of Maduro Sparks International Condemnation and Fears of Regional Instability
The Trump administration’s audacious military intervention in Venezuela, culminating in the capture and removal of President Nicolás Maduro, has triggered a wave of condemnation from global powers and raised concerns about escalating instability across Latin America. The operation, described as the most significant U.S. intervention in the region since the 1989 invasion of Panama, has already prompted a refugee crisis and ignited a diplomatic firestorm.
The impact of these events is being felt far beyond Venezuela’s borders, with regional reactions largely critical and support limited to a handful of staunch U.S. allies. Colombia, hosting the largest Venezuelan diaspora, has deployed security forces along its border in anticipation of a potential influx of refugees. President Gustavo Petro confirmed strikes in Caracas targeting a military airbase, other installations, and the legislative building, denouncing the attack as an act of aggression against Venezuela and the broader Latin American region, and urgently calling for de-escalation.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva sharply condemned the U.S. action, stating the strikes “crossed an unacceptable line” and established a “dangerous precedent.” Lula further asserted that the intervention evoked “the worst moments of interference” in Latin America, jeopardizing the region’s hard-won status as a zone of peace. Despite a cooling of relations since Brazil’s refusal to recognize Maduro’s disputed 2024 election – widely considered fraudulent – Lula’s condemnation underscores the widespread regional unease. Similar rebukes came from Chile and Mexico, with Mexico specifically labeling the strikes a violation of the U.N. Charter and demanding an immediate cessation of hostilities. In a separate statement, President Trump indicated a hardline stance toward Mexico, stating in a Fox News interview that the country was “run by drug cartels” and that “something is gonna have to be done with Mexico.”
Venezuela’s closest allies, Cuba and Nicaragua, are closely monitoring the unfolding crisis. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel denounced the U.S. action as “state terrorism” and appealed for urgent international intervention. Cuba, currently grappling with its most severe economic crisis since the fall of the Soviet Union, is particularly vulnerable to disruption given its heavy reliance on Venezuelan oil, and the government in Havana – in power since 1959 – is watching the situation with intense concern.
However, the intervention has garnered support from a select group of Trump allies in Latin America. Argentina’s President Javier Milei celebrated Maduro’s capture as a triumph for freedom, while El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele signaled his support through social media. Ecuador’s Daniel Noboa characterized the operation as a significant blow to Venezuela’s “narco-Chavista” structures.
The international response extends beyond the Americas. Russia swiftly condemned the strikes, reaffirming its solidarity with the Venezuelan people. A statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry labeled the Trump administration’s justification for attacking Venezuela as unfounded, characterizing the action – if reports of Maduro’s capture are accurate – as an “unacceptable assault” on Venezuela’s sovereignty. While expressing support, Moscow has refrained from forcefully challenging the U.S., likely due to ongoing pressure from the Trump administration against the Venezuelan leadership.
China also strongly opposed the U.S. action, condemning it as a violation of international law. Beijing’s foreign ministry expressed being “deeply shocked” by what it termed Washington’s “blatant use of force” against a sovereign state, arguing that it infringed upon Venezuela’s sovereignty and threatened peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean.
European leaders have adopted a more cautious approach. French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized that any transition in Venezuela must be “peaceful, democratic and respectful of the will of the Venezuelan people,” and indicated he had spoken with opposition leader María Corina Machado, offering France’s support for a peaceful transition. U.K. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer declined to comment on whether the strikes breached international law, stating he was awaiting further information while reaffirming his commitment to international law. He noted that Britain was neither involved nor consulted and expressed hope that opposition figure Edmundo González could guide a transition. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz acknowledged the “complex” legality of the operation, stressing the importance of upholding international law and avoiding political instability in Venezuela. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen affirmed the E.U.’s support for a “peaceful and democratic transition” in Venezuela, but stopped short of criticizing the U.S. attack, stating, “We stand by the Venezuelan people and support a peaceful and democratic transition,” while emphasizing the need for any solution to respect international law and the U.N. Charter.
The U.N. Security Council is scheduled to convene on Monday at the request of Colombia, with backing from Russia and China. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres issued a statement expressing his “deep alarm” over the developments, voicing concern that “international law hasn’t been respected.”
The long-term consequences of the Trump administration’s intervention remain uncertain, but the immediate impact is a deeply fractured international landscape and a heightened risk of further instability in a region already grappling with significant challenges.
