Overview
- President Donald Trump said U.S. forces captured Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores during large-scale strikes and that they will face criminal charges in New York, with Washington overseeing a transition.
- Venezuela imposed a state of emergency as officials accused the U.S. of attacking civilian and military sites in Caracas during the operation.
- Russia and China condemned the action as a violation of international law and pressed for UN involvement, while the UN Secretary-General warned it could set a dangerous precedent.
- The European Union urged restraint and respect for the UN Charter, reiterating that Maduro lacks legitimacy, as France separately questioned the legality of the operation.
- Regional reaction split, with Mexico, Brazil and Colombia denouncing the strikes, while Argentina’s Javier Milei and El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele welcomed Maduro’s removal.