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3d ago

Canada Urges International Law After U.S. Seizes Maduro

Ottawa’s response stresses legal norms, routing assistance through its Bogotá embassy.

Demonstrators gathered at Queen's Park protest the Venezuelan election results and demand a stronger response from Ottawa, in Toronto, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sheila Reid
People walk past the Embassy of the United States of America in Ottawa, after Joe Biden was elected the 46th president of the United States on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Opponents of ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro demonstrate in Doral, Florida, on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. Venezuela's deposed president Nicolas Maduro is scheduled to appear before a federal judge in New York at noon on Jan. 5, to be formally notified about the charges against him, the court said. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were seized by U.S. forces during a pre-dawn raid on Jan. 3 in Caracas and brought to New York to face charges of "narcoterrorism" tied to alleged trafficking of tons of cocaine into the United States.
Opponents of ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro demonstrate in Doral, Florida, on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026.

Overview

  • U.S. forces captured Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores in a pre-dawn operation in Caracas and transferred them to New York, where officials say they face Southern District of New York drug-related indictments with an initial court appearance expected Monday in Manhattan.
  • Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomed an opportunity for “freedom, democracy, peace, and prosperity” in Venezuela while urging a peaceful, Venezuelan-led transition consistent with international law.
  • Foreign Minister Anita Anand reaffirmed Canada’s non-recognition of Maduro since 2019 and said consular support is being provided through Colombia as Ottawa consults international partners.
  • Canadian political reaction split sharply, with Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre praising President Donald Trump’s move, while the NDP and Green Party condemned it as unlawful and a breach of international norms.
  • Public response in Canada ranged from protests at the U.S. embassy in Ottawa and in Montreal to pro-opposition gatherings in Toronto, as questions over the operation’s legal basis persisted and Canada reinforced travel warnings for Venezuela.