Politics

World leaders are expressing a mix of support and disapproval regarding the US's capture of Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro. On Saturday, US forces launched a significant strike on Venezuela, resulting in the capture of Maduro and his wife, who were then taken out of the country. Both have been charged with drug offenses in New York. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that his government would “shed no tears” over the end of Maduro’s rule. Neighboring countries in Latin America, along with Venezuela's allies, Russia and China, criticized the US actions. China expressed that it was “deeply shocked and strongly condemns” the use of force against a sovereign nation and its leader. Russia labeled the US actions as “an act of armed aggression.” Iran, currently facing its own issues with Trump regarding intervention, described the strikes as a “flagrant violation of the country’s national sovereignty.” Trump remarked that the US will “run” Venezuela “until we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition.” Several Latin American leaders also condemned the actions of the US. Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva posted on X that the US’s actions “cross an unacceptable line,” warning that “attacking countries in flagrant violation of international law is the first step toward a world of violence, chaos, and instability.”