Key Points
- Brazil and 21 other countries condemned the U.S. raid that put Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores in U.S. custody.
- Argentina and Trinidad and Tobago defended the move; Washington calls it law enforcement, while Caracas calls it illegal force.
- The dispute is testing Latin America’s “zone of peace” doctrine and the global rules meant to restrain cross-border action.
Brazil and 21 other countries condemned the U.S. operation in Caracas, triggering an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting and widening a diplomatic split over sovereignty and precedent.
Colombia and Venezuela requested the session; China and Russia backed it. Twenty-nine countries took part, including all 15 Council members. U.N. political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo urged strict respect for the U.N. Charter’s limits on the use of force.
In the debate, three delegations backed the operation—the United States, Argentina, and Trinidad and Tobago—while most speakers criticized it or aligned with the Charter, including France.
U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz said the mission was “surgical” and aimed at enforcing criminal cases—not occupying Venezuela or waging war on its people. Argentina’s representative praised Washington’s push to capture Maduro, calling it a blow against “narco-terrorism.”
Latin America Reacts to Maduro’s Capture and U.S. Threats
Venezuela’s U.N. ambassador Samuel Moncada called the seizure a kidnapping and said it had no legal justification, arguing the real motive was Venezuela’s strategic position and natural wealth, including oil and energy.
Brazil’s envoy Sérgio Danese said the bombing and capture crossed an unacceptable line, violated the Charter, and set a dangerous precedent. Across Latin America, governments lined up on opposing sides.
Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Uruguay, Chile, and Spain issued a joint statement rejecting unilateral military action and warning against outside control of Venezuela’s strategic resources, while reaffirming the region as a “zone of peace.” Panama, Paraguay, Cuba, and Nicaragua echoed calls to respect national sovereignty.
On January 5, Maduro appeared in federal court in New York and pleaded not guilty; Flores also pleaded not guilty, with the next hearing set for March 17.
In Caracas, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as interim president. Donald Trump said he is not at war with Venezuela but threatened a second operation and rejected elections within 30 days.
Related coverage: Brazil’s Morning Call | Trump Assigns Rubio to Run Venezuela Transition, With Oil Re This is part of The Rio Times’ daily coverage of Venezuela affairs and Latin American financial news.