Sunday, 04 January 2026
Sunday, 04 January 2026
Russia, Iran, the European Union and several countries across the world on Saturday urged restraint, de-escalation and respect for international law after the United States launched military strikes on Venezuela and captured President Nicolas Maduro during an overnight operation.
Russia said it was deeply concerned and condemned what it called an “act of armed aggression” by the United States against Venezuela.
In a statement, the Russian foreign ministry said, “This morning, the United States committed an act of armed aggression against Venezuela. This is deeply concerning and condemnable.”
The ministry rejected Washington’s justification for the action, and said, “The pretexts used to justify such actions are unfounded. Ideological animosity has prevailed over business pragmatism and the willingness to build relationships based on trust and predictability.”
It urged restraint, adding that “in the current situation, it is important, first and foremost, to prevent further escalation and to focus on finding a way out of the situation through dialogue.”
Moscow stressed that “Latin America must remain a zone of peace, as it declared itself to be in 2014,” and said Venezuela must be guaranteed the right to determine its own destiny “without any destructive, let alone military, interference from outside.”
Russia said it supported calls by Venezuelan authorities and Latin American leaders for an immediate meeting of the UN Security Council.
"I want to establish the facts first. I want to speak to President Trump. I want to speak to allies. I can be absolutely clear that we were not involved ... and I always say and believe we should all uphold international law," British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement to British broadcasters.
China's foreign ministry said in a statement on Saturday that it condemned the US action in Venezuela, which it said violated international law.
"China is deeply shocked and strongly condemns the use of force by the US against a sovereign country and the use of force against the president of a country," the foreign ministry said.
"China firmly opposes such hegemonic behaviour by the US, which seriously violates international law, violates Venezuela's sovereignty, and threatens peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean. We urge the US to abide by international law and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and stop violating the sovereignty and security of other countries."
The United States' military operation went against the principles of international law, said French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Saturday.
"The military operation that led to the capture of Nicolas Maduro violates the principle of not resorting to force, that underpins international law. France reiterates that no lasting political solution can be imposed from the outside and that only sovereign people themselves can decide their future," wrote Barrot on X.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is deeply alarmed by US action in Venezuela that sets "a dangerous precedent," his spokesperson said in a statement on Saturday.
"The Secretary-General continues to emphasize the importance of full respect - by all - of international law, including the UN Charter. He’s deeply concerned that the rules of international law have not been respected," UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.
Cuba denounced what it described as a "criminal" US attack on Venezuela and urgently called for a reaction from the international community, the Cuban presidency said on Saturday.
The presidency accused the United States of "state terrorism" against the Venezuelan people and said what it described as a "zone of peace" was being "brutally assaulted."
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Saturday condemned the U.S. military attack on neighbor Venezuela.
"These acts represent a grave affront to Venezuela's sovereignty and yet another extremely dangerous precedent for the entire international community," Lula said in a post on X.
Lula had previously said that an armed intervention in Venezuela would be a "humanitarian catastrophe", and has offered Brazil to mediate disputes between the countries.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also reacted strongly, framing the developments as resistance to external pressure.
“What matters is that when a person realizes the enemy is arrogantly trying to impose something on the country, on the officials, on the government, and on the nation, one must stand firmly against the enemy and bare one’s chest in resistance. We will not yield to the enemy,” he said.
“Relying on Almighty God, trusting in God, and with confidence in the support of the people, God willing and by divine grace, we will bring the enemy to its knees,” Khamenei added.
US President Donald Trump said the United States had struck Venezuela and captured President Maduro, who he said had been taken out of the country.
The operation followed months of stepped-up pressure by Washington and was announced after what US officials described as a large-scale strike carried out overnight.
In Caracas, multiple explosions were reported and low-flying aircraft were seen over the capital.
The Venezuelan government accused the United States of attacking civilian and military installations, called the action an “imperialist attack,” and urged citizens to take to the streets.
The European Union stands by the people of Venezuela and supports a peaceful and democratic transition in the country, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Saturday.
"Following very closely the situation in Venezuela. We stand by the people of Venezuela and support a peaceful and democratic transition. Any solution must respect international law and the UN Charter," von der Leyen said in a post on X.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said she had spoken with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the EU ambassador in Caracas, and that the bloc was closely monitoring the situation.
“Under all circumstances, the principles of international law and the UN Charter must be respected. We call for restraint,” she said in a post on X.
Italy said it was closely monitoring developments, with a particular focus on the safety of its citizens.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she was gathering information about Italians living in Venezuela and was in constant contact with Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.
Tajani said Rome’s diplomatic representation in Caracas was monitoring the situation with particular attention to the Italian community, and that the foreign ministry’s crisis unit was operational.
Italy’s ambassador said around 160,000 Italians live in Venezuela, most with dual citizenship, while others are there for work and tourism.
Germany’s foreign ministry said it was watching the situation with great concern and that a crisis team would meet later on Saturday.
A written communication said the ministry was in close contact with its embassy in Caracas.
Spain called for de-escalation, moderation and respect for international law, and offered to help mediate. “In this regard, Spain is willing to offer its good offices to achieve a peaceful and negotiated solution to the current crisis,” the Spanish foreign ministry said.
Belgium said it was coordinating closely with European partners. Deputy Prime Minister and foreign affairs minister Maxime Prevot said Belgium’s embassy in Bogota, which covers Venezuela, and services in Brussels were fully mobilized and closely monitoring developments.
In the Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said the United States had commenced military operations in Venezuela early on Saturday, but stressed that her country was not involved.
“Trinidad and Tobago is NOT a participant in any of these ongoing military operations,” she said, adding that the country continued to maintain peaceful relations with the people of Venezuela.
Indonesia also called for restraint. Foreign ministry spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang said Jakarta was monitoring developments to ensure the safety of Indonesian citizens and urged all parties to prioritize peaceful resolution through de-escalation and dialogue, while emphasizing respect for international law and the principles of the UN Charter.
Chile's President Gabriel Boric in a post on X wrote, "As the Government of Chile, we express our concern and condemnation of the military actions of the United States in Venezuela and call for a peaceful solution to the serious crisis affecting the country."
"Chile reaffirms its commitment to the basic principles of international law, such as the prohibition of the use of force, non-intervention, the peaceful settlement of international disputes, and the territorial integrity of States," he added.
"The President of Belarus CATEGORICALLY CONDEMNS the act of American aggression against Venezuela. Alexander Lukashenko spoke about the consequences just recently in an interview with American journalists.
In particular, he said that "it will be a second Vietnam. And the Americans don't need it," Belta news agency cited Natalia Eismont, spokesperson for Lukashenko, as saying.
Danish foreign minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said on Saturday that international law must be respected.
"Dramatic development in Venezuela, which we are following closely. We need to get back on track toward de-escalation and dialogue," Rasmussen wrote on social media platform X.
South Africa has called for an urgent United Nations Security Council session following the unilateral military action by the United States in Venezuela, a statement by the country's department of international relations said on Saturday.
"South Africa calls on the UN Security Council, the body mandated to maintain international peace and security, to urgently convene to address this situation," the statement said.
"South Africa views these actions as a manifest violation of the Charter of the United Nations, which mandates that all Member States refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state," it added.
