The world reacts to US intervention in Venezuela: Split between strong backing, lukewarm reactions and support for the Maduro regime

The United States conducted a large-scale military strike Saturday against targets in Venezuela, including military bases in Caracas such as Fuerte Tiuna and La Carlota Air Base, as well as facilities in other states.

President Donald Trump announced that, as a result of the operation, dictator Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were captured and transferred out of the country, presumably to the United States to face charges of narco-terrorism and drug trafficking.

International reactions to the U.S. military intervention in Venezuela and the capture of Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores have been immediate, intense and deeply divided, reflecting global geopolitical tensions.

Argentina

Argentine President Javier Milei celebrated Maduro's capture with a message on X that read "¡Viva la libertad carajo!" ("Long live freedom!"), describing Maduro as a "narco-terrorist" and a regional threat.

Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated President Trump on the operation. He did so through a post on X from his office.

"Congratulations, President [Donald Trump] for your bold and historic leadership on behalf of freedom and justice. I salute your decisive resolve and the brilliant action of your brave soldiers," he said.

France

French President Emmanuel Macron said the Venezuelan people should celebrate the arrest of Nicolás Maduro.

“The transition that now opens must be peaceful, democratic, and respectful of the will of the Venezuelan people. We hope that President Edmundo González Urrutia, elected in 2024, will be able to lead this transition as soon as possible,” he added.

Ivan Duque

Former Colombian President Iván Duque congratulated the U.S. operation "in defense of hemispheric security, the fight against narco-terrorism and the protection of human rights."

In a message on X, Duque stated, "Maduro's submission to justice is a moral duty in the face of the systematic violation of human rights that his regime has perpetuated for years. This is the time for the return to democracy and the restoration of institutional order. The international community must be ready to give full support to the implementation of the reconstruction plan."

Álvaro Uribe

Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe stated on X that the United States has had to do what should have been done by international organizations and the Venezuelan military, which preferred the bribery of the dictatorship to enforcing democracy in their country.

Santiago Abascal

Santiago Abascal, president of Spanish conservative party Vox, reacted positively to these events on social media:

"Today the world is a little freer," he declared on X.

"We should rejoice in this and support the restoration of democracy in Venezuela. With our allies at Foro Madrid we will work for that," he added.

Abascal added that "[Prime Minister Pedro] Sánchez must be very worried. The fall of Maduro is a bigger blow for the Sánchez mafia than the arrest of Ábalos and Cerdán."

Italy

The office of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the leader was "closely following the situation in Venezuela" and establishing contacts to "gather information" about its citizens in the South American country.

The European Union

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reacted on X to the U.S. intervention in Venezuela.

"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.

The head of European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, called for "restraint" and respect for international law after talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Countries close to Venezuela reject U.S. attacks

Countries close to Venezuela and other allies of dictator Nicolás Maduro, such as Russia, Iran and Cuba, on Saturday rejected U.S. attacks against the Caribbean nation.

Russia

Russia condemned the U.S. military action and assured that there was no justification for the attack, carried out because "ideological hostility" had prevailed over diplomacy.

"This is deeply disturbing and condemnable," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The government later demanded "immediate" information on Maduro's whereabouts.

Iran

Iran, which has close ties with the oil-rich South American nation, said it "strongly condemns the U.S. military attack."

"Iran's Foreign Ministry strongly condemns the U.S. military attack on Venezuela and the flagrant violation of the country's national sovereignty and territorial integrity," Iranian diplomacy said in a statement.

Cuba

A historical ally of Venezuela in the region, the Cuban regime claimed the operation was "state-sponsored terrorism against the brave Venezuelan people" and against the Americas, according to a post by President Miguel Díaz-Canel.

The Cuban leader called for a "reaction from the international community" against the "criminal attack" by the United States.

Colombia

Colombian President Gustavo Petro criticized the "missile attacks" in Caracas and ordered the deployment of military troops to the border.

Colombia is this year a non-permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, for which the leftist leader requested that the organization meet "immediately."

Chile

The outgoing president of Chile, Gabriel Boric, made a call "to seek a peaceful solution to the serious crisis affecting" Venezuela.

"The Venezuelan crisis must be resolved through dialogue."

Spain

Spain's diplomacy stated that the country is willing "to lend its good offices to achieve a peaceful and negotiated solution to the current crisis."