Overview
- The operation, presented by U.S. officials as enforcing criminal indictments, removed Nicolás Maduro to face charges in the United States.
- China condemned the action as a serious violation of international law and Venezuelan sovereignty, while Russia labeled it an act of armed aggression.
- EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas urged respect for the U.N. Charter and said Maduro lacks legitimacy without directly assessing the raid’s legality.
- The White House released an image of Maduro in custody as President Trump vowed to defend U.S. citizens, reinforcing a message of American resolve.
- Analysts warned the move erodes respect for international law and sets a dangerous precedent, as others link it to Trump’s strategy to assert hemispheric dominance under a Monroe Doctrine corollary.