Global Split: US Capture of Maduro Sparks Cheers, Condemnation, and Fears of Instability
Source: BBC
World leaders have had very different reactions to the US’s capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife after a major strike. This shows how divided the world is.
Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister of the UK, said that Britain would “shed no tears” over the fall of what it sees as an illegitimate government. But in most of Latin America and among Venezuela’s allies, like Russia, China, Iran, and Cuba, the response was very negative. These countries said the operation was against Venezuela’s sovereignty and against international law.
Brazil, Colombia, Chile, and Uruguay all said that the strikes could make the area less stable, which made people worry about what might happen next. Russia went even further, calling the operation an act of armed aggression. China, on the other hand, said it was very shocked by the use of military force.
European leaders and the EU urged calm and repeated their calls for a peaceful and legal transfer of power. UN Secretary-General António Guterres also expressed deep concern, saying that the action could set a dangerous example.
On the other hand, Argentina’s President Javier Milei and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu both welcomed the move and called it a step toward freedom. However, the operation also made people in the US uneasy. Critics questioned the lack of congressional approval and the lack of a clear plan for what comes next. This showed that not only were there disagreements between countries, but there was also uncertainty at home.
