Overview
- President Donald Trump said U.S. forces struck Venezuela and captured Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores, who are now in U.S. custody to face narco‑terrorism and related charges in New York.
- The administration has signaled plans to run Venezuela on a temporary basis and tap its oil reserves, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio was reported to have warned Cuba and Mexico.
- Venezuela’s government condemned the strikes as a blatant UN Charter violation, citing attacks in Caracas and surrounding states and announcing emergency measures and defense plans.
- China, Russia, Iran, Cuba, Brazil and others denounced the operation, with calls for an urgent UN Security Council response, while Spain offered to mediate and European governments monitored citizen safety.
- In New Delhi, CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML) Liberation, AIFB and RSP held a protest at Jantar Mantar, announced nationwide actions, and urged India to formally condemn the U.S. move; Kerala’s chief minister labeled the operation terrorism by a rogue state.