The United States’ military action in Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro have triggered a wave of international condemnation, with critics describing the move as another example of American imperial overreach.
US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that American forces had seized Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, following overnight strikes in and around the Venezuelan capital, Caracas. The pair were taken into US custody and are expected to face federal charges in New York over alleged narco-terrorism and drug trafficking offences.
Washington said the operation followed months of pressure on Maduro’s government, including the seizure of oil tankers and strikes on alleged drug-smuggling vessels. Trump later said the US would temporarily “run” Venezuela until a political transition is achieved, adding that American oil companies would help repair the country’s oil infrastructure.
The action has drawn sharp criticism from world leaders and international bodies. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was “deeply alarmed” by the escalation, warning that the operation set a “dangerous precedent” and urging respect for international law and the UN Charter.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and several human rights experts also condemned the intervention, describing it as a violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty. UN human rights chief Volker Türk called for restraint, stressing that the protection of Venezuelans must remain paramount.
Venezuela’s government denounced the operation as an act of military aggression and declared a state of national emergency, while officials demanded the immediate release of Maduro and rejected any suggestion that the country would accept US control.
Analysts have warned that the move could further destabilise the region, with critics arguing that the United States risks repeating a long history of controversial interventions in Latin America — a pattern many now describe as “the empire striking again.”
