Around 2 a.m., explosions were heard over Venezuela\u2019s capital Caracas, sending people running into the streets. The attack on the capital itself lasted around 30 minutes.<\/p>\n
At a Saturday press conference, Trump <\/p>\n
said U.S. oil companies would invest billions, describing the Venezuelan oil business as a \u201ctotal bust for a long period of time.\u201d<\/p>\n
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, would face charges after an indictment in New York. Bondi vowed in a social media post that the couple would \u201csoon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Members of the presidential guard stand outside the Miraflores presidential palace after explosions and low-flying aircraft were heard in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026.<\/p>\n
Cristian Hernandez\/AP<\/p>\n
Maduro and other Venezuelan officials were indicted in 2020 on \u201cnarco-terrorism\u201d conspiracy charges, but it was not previously known his wife had been and it wasn\u2019t clear if Bondi was referring to a new indictment.<\/p>\n
The Venezuelan government called it an \u201cimperialist attack\u201d and urged citizens to take to the streets. The attack came after months of rising tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The dramatic operation capped an intensive pressure campaign on the South American country and <\/p>\n Reaction from Canada, Mexico, U.S.<\/p>\n Prime Minister Mark Carney released a statement on X early Saturday evening, saying that Canada\u00a0\u201cwelcomes the opportunity for freedom, democracy, peace, and prosperity for the Venezuelan people.\u201d He added that Canada has not recognized the \u201cillegitimate\u00a0regime of Maduro since it stole the 2018 election.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCanada has long supported a peaceful, negotiated, and Venezuelan-led transition process that respects the democratic will of the Venezuelan people,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Carney said his government in March imposed additional sanctions on Maduro\u2019s \u201cbrutally oppressive and criminal regime,\u201d and condemned his\u00a0\u201cbreaches of international peace and security.\u201d<\/p>\n The prime minister also said \u201cCanada calls on all parties to respect international law.\u201d<\/p>\n One of the first actions taken by Canada\u2019s new government in March 2025 was to impose additional sanctions on Nicol\u00e1s Maduro\u2019s brutally oppressive and criminal regime \u2014 unequivocally condemning his grave breaches of international peace and security, gross and systematic human\u2026<\/p>\n \u2014 Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) January 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Foreign Minister Anita Anand, who also called for \u201crespect to international law,\u201d said the government stands by Venezuelans and their desire to live \u201cin a peaceful and democratic society,\u201d in statement Saturday morning.<\/p>\n She said Canada is closely monitoring the situation with its international partners.<\/p>\n Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre congratulated the Trump administration on their operation, adding that Maduro should \u201clive out his days in prison.\u201d<\/p>\n Congratulations to President Trump on successfully arresting narco-terrorist and socialist dictator Nicolas Maduro, who should live out his days in prison.<\/p>\n The legitimate winner of the most recent Venezuelan elections, Edmundo Gonz\u00e1lez, should take office along with the\u2026<\/p>\n \u2014 Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) January 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n The political climate in Venezuela has resulted in a reduced diplomatic presence from Canada in recent years. In 2019, the Canadian government announced their diplomats could no longer secure accreditation under Maduro\u2019s regime and their visas were set to expire.<\/p>\n \u201cTherefore, we are left with no choice but to temporarily suspend our operations at the Embassy of Canada to Venezuela, effective immediately,\u201d then-foreign affairs minister Chrystia Freeland said.<\/p>\n Her statement criticized the \u201cillegitimate Maduro regime\u201d and called for a \u201cfull return to democracy.\u201d It said Canadians in Venezuela could instead seek consular assistance in Bogot\u00e1, Colombia, and noted official travel advisories urging against any travel to Venezuela \u2014 a travel advisory that has remained in force into the start of this year.<\/p>\n Global Affairs Canada has updated its travel advisory for Venezuela, saying the situation after the U.S. strikes \u201cis tense and could escalate quickly.\u201d It advises people to avoid all travel to the country.<\/p>\n Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, along with the country\u2019s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, \u201cstrongly condemned\u201d the U.S. military operation in Venezuela, according to an online statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n Sheinbaum and the government highlighted that the strike was a \u201cclear violation\u201d of Article 2 of the United Nations (UN) Charter, and urged the UN to work toward an immediate de-escalation.\u00a0<\/p>\n El Art\u00edculo 2, p\u00e1rrafo 4 de la Carta de las Naciones Unidas dice textualmente:<\/p>\n \u201cLos Miembros de la Organizaci\u00f3n, en sus relaciones internacionales, se abstendr\u00e1n de recurrir a la amenaza o al uso de la fuerza contra la integridad territorial o la independencia pol\u00edtica de\u2026<\/p>\n \u2014 Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo (@Claudiashein) January 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Zohran Mamdani, the new mayor of New York City,\u00a0posted on X that he\u2019d been briefed Saturday about the \u201cplanned imprisonment in federal custody\u201d of Maduro and his wife in NYC.<\/p>\n Mamdani called the U.S. attack on Venezuela \u201can act of war,\u201d adding it\u2019s a \u201cviolation of federal and international law.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis\u00a0blatant pursuit of regime change doesn\u2019t just affect those abroad, it directly impacts New Yorkers, including tens of thousands of Venezuelans who call this city home,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n I was briefed this morning on the U.S. military capture of Venezuelan President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro and his wife, as well as their planned imprisonment in federal custody here in New York City.<\/p>\n Unilaterally attacking a sovereign nation is an act of war and a violation of federal and\u2026<\/p>\n \u2014 Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) January 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Latin American neighbours<\/p>\n Colombia\u2019s president Gustavo Petro said forces would be present at the border to provide support in the case of a refugee influx.<\/p>\n Schneyder Mendoza AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n In a series of social media posts, the president of Colombia, which shares a border with Venezuela, has condemned the U.S. bombing of Caracas.<\/p>\n The country will deploy public forces at the border, Petro said, for available support in the event of a refugee influx.<\/p>\n In a separate post<\/a>, Petro said, \u201cThe Republic of Colombia reiterates its conviction that peace, respect for international law, and the protection of life and human dignity must prevail over any form of armed confrontation.\u201d<\/p>\n Cuban President Miguel D\u00edaz-Canel Berm\u00fadez\u00a0said on X<\/a>: \u201cCuba denounces and urgently demands the reaction of the international community against the criminal attack by the U.S. on Venezuela.\u201d<\/p>\n Ecuador\u2019s president, Daniel Noboa, on the other hand, seemingly expressed his support for the outcome of the operation.<\/p>\n \u201cTo Mar\u00eda Corina Machado, Edmundo Gonz\u00e1lez (Venezuelan opposition leaders) and the Venezuelan people: it\u2019s time to reclaim your country. You have an ally in Ecuador,\u201d Noboa wrote in a post on X<\/a>.<\/p>\n In Chile, outgoing President Gabriel Boric Font expressed \u201cconcern and condemnation\u201d for the American strikes in Venezuela.<\/p>\n Como Gobierno de Chile expresamos nuestra preocupaci\u00f3n y condena por las acciones militares de Estados Unidos que se desarrollan en Venezuela y hacemos un llamado a buscar una salida pac\u00edfica a la grave crisis que afecta al pa\u00eds.<\/p>\n Chile reafirma su adhesi\u00f3n a principios b\u00e1sicos\u2026<\/p>\n \u2014 Gabriel Boric Font (@GabrielBoric) January 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThe Venezuelan crisis must be resolved through dialogue and the support of multilateralism, not through violence or foreign interference,\u201d Boric Font said.<\/p>\n In a post to X,<\/a> Brazilian President\u00a0Luiz In\u00e1cio Lula da Silva also condemned the attack, stating the capture of Venezuelan President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro and U.S. strikes \u201ccross an unacceptable line.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThese acts represent a most serious affront to Venezuela\u2019s sovereignty and yet another extremely dangerous precedent for the entire international community.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Os bombardeios em territ\u00f3rio venezuelano e a captura do seu presidente ultrapassam uma linha inaceit\u00e1vel. Esses atos representam uma afronta grav\u00edssima \u00e0 soberania da Venezuela e mais um precedente extremamente perigoso para toda a comunidade internacional.<\/p>\n Atacar pa\u00edses, em\u2026<\/p>\n \u2014 Lula (@LulaOficial) January 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Reaction from Europe<\/p>\n President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said that European Union is monitoring the situation closely and they \u201cstand by the people of Venezuela,\u201d in a peaceful and democratic transition.<\/p>\n The head of the EU\u2019s executive body called for a respect for \u201cinternational law and the UN Charter.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n With HRVP @kajakallas<\/a> and in coordination with EU Member States, we are\u2026<\/p>\n \u2014 Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) January 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n The European Union\u2019s top diplomat of foreign policy Kaja Kallas called for restraint and respect for international law following the U.S. strikes.<\/p>\n President Nicolas Maduro tosses a carrot next to his wife Cilia Flores during a rally marking the anniversary of the Battle of Santa Ines, which took place during Venezuela\u2019s 19th-century Federal War, in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. (AP Photo\/Ariana Cubillos)<\/p>\n RM<\/p>\n \u201cUnder all circumstances, the principles of international law and the UN Charter must be respected,\u201d she said in a post on X<\/a>.<\/p>\n Kallas said the European Union has repeatedly said Venezuelan President Maduro \u201clacks legitimacy\u201d and has defended a \u201cpeaceful transition of power.\u201d<\/p>\n Pedestrians run after explosions and low-flying aircraft were heard in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026.<\/p>\n Matias Delacroix\/AP<\/p>\n Spanish President Pedro S\u00e1nchez and the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs echoed the EU, calling for \u201cde-escalation\u201d and a respect for international law in a statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n French President Emmanuel Macron said the Venezuelan people \u201care today rid of Nicol\u00e1s Maduro\u2019s dictatorship and can only rejoice.\u201d<\/p>\n He called for a transition that respects the will of the Venezuelan people.<\/p>\n The Venezuelan people are today rid of Nicol\u00e1s Maduro\u2019s dictatorship and can only rejoice.<\/p>\n By seizing power and trampling on fundamental freedoms, Nicol\u00e1s Maduro gravely undermined the dignity of his own people.<\/p>\n The upcoming transition\u2026<\/p>\n \u2014 Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) January 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer said the U.K. was not \u201cinvolved in any way\u201d in the U.S. operation, and that he was seeking more information before making a comment.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s obviously a fast-moving situation and we need to establish all the facts,\u201d he said talking to U.K. broadcaster SKY News<\/a>.<\/p>\n Iran, China, and Russia react<\/p>\n \u201cIt must be explicitly and immediately condemned by the UN and by all states that are committed to the rule of law, as well as to international peace and security,\u201d they wrote.<\/p>\n The Ministry of Foreign Affairs for\u00a0The People\u2019s Republic of China<\/a> said in a statement they \u201cfirmly oppose\u201d the U.S strikes on Venezuela, calling on the American government to \u201cabide by international law.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Russia\u2019s foreign ministry called the US attack \u201cdeeply concerning\u201d and \u201cdeserving of condemnation.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe reaffirm our solidarity with the Venezuelan people and our support for the policy pursued by the Bolivarian leadership to safeguard the country\u2019s national interests and sovereignty,\u201d the ministry wrote in an online statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n With files from the Associated Press<\/p>\n
\n
\n <\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n