U.S. Military Action in Venezuela: Maduro Kidnapped, International Reaction Mounts

U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed that his administration carried out a military attack on Venezuela in the early hours of Saturday morning, resulting in the removal of President Nicolás Maduro from the country. His wife, reportedly identified as Cilla Forbes, was also taken by U.S. authorities.

Trump described the operation as a “large scale strike” against Venezuela. According to U.S. Senator Mike Lee of Utah, U.S. authorities arrested the Venezuelan leader to stand trial in the United States. Writing on social media, Senator Lee said he was briefed that the U.S. deployed “kinetic action” in Venezuela to protect those executing the alleged arrest warrant against Maduro.

Several loud explosions were reportedly heard across the Venezuelan capital, Caracas. The country’s Vice President, Delcy Rodriguez, says the government is unaware of Maduro’s whereabouts and is demanding proof of life.

Legal Proceedings

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that Maduro and his wife will face criminal charges following an indictment in New York. In a social media post, Bondi vowed that the couple would “soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.” Maduro was indicted in New York in 2020, although it was not previously known that his wife had also been indicted.

Protests and Public Reaction

Protests have erupted in Caracas following the military action. Caracas Mayor Carmen Meléndez joined demonstrators calling for Maduro’s immediate return. “Maduro, hold on, the people are rising up!” the crowd chanted, also saying: “We are here Nicolás Maduro. If you can hear us, we are here!”

Residents expressed shock and fear at the unfolding events. One witness reported: “Venezuelans woke up scared, many families couldn’t sleep. I have been on the street, I just got back from Maracay, everything is blocked, everything is bad, very bad.”

Electrician Alfonso Valdez criticized the U.S. government, saying: “They impose the law. They are the police of the world … they are assassins.”

Caribbean Response

CARICOM has expressed grave concern at the unfolding situation, warning of possible implications for neighbouring countries. The Conference of Heads of Government convened an early morning meeting on Saturday following reports of military action inside Caracas, after which it issued a statement saying the bloc is “actively monitoring” the situation and would continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.

The regional community is now chaired by Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Terrance Drew. Jamaican Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness demitted office as chair at the end of December.

Trinidadian Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar confirmed the U.S. action against Venezuela but stressed that Trinidad was not a participant in the military operation. She said her country continues to maintain peaceful relations with the people of Venezuela. Persad-Bissessar has been one of the most vocal advocates for U.S. military action in the region, publicly breaking with CARICOM at least twice on U.S. military posture in the Caribbean.

International Condemnation

Russia’s Foreign Ministry condemned what it called a U.S. “act of armed aggression.” In a statement posted on its Telegram channel on Saturday, it said, “Venezuela must be guaranteed the right to determine its own destiny without any destructive, let alone military, outside intervention.”

The ministry called for dialogue to prevent further escalation and reaffirmed its “solidarity” with the Venezuelan people and government, adding that Russia supports calls for an emergency UN Security Council meeting.

In Colombia, President Gustavo Petro, one of Donald Trump’s fiercest critics, convened a national security meeting before dawn on Saturday and deployed security forces to the border in preparation for a potential “massive influx of refugees” from neighbouring Venezuela.

Petro said he would also call on the UN Security Council to consider “the aggression against the sovereignty of Venezuela and of Latin America.” “Without sovereignty, there is no nation,” he wrote on social media.

This is a developing story.