\t\tRead: 3 min<\/p>\n
The U.S. military operation that led to the seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday sparked an outpouring of responses, with allies and foes of Washington and Caracas expressing disquiet.<\/p>\n
President Donald Trump said that the United States would \u201crun\u201d Venezuela and tap its huge oil reserves, and \u00a0posted a picture of Maduro in custody on a U.S. naval ship wearing a blindfold and handcuffs.<\/p>\n
Maduro and his wife were flown by helicopter to New York City, where they face drug-trafficking and weapons charges.<\/p>\n
They were seized by U.S. special forces during a pre-dawn attack in which air strikes pounded sites in and around the Venezuelan capital Caracas late on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Here is how countries, including Canada, reacted to Maduro\u2019s capture:<\/p>\n
Canada<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Mark Carney said on X that, \u201cCanada has not recognized Maduro\u2019s illegitimate regime since the 2018 electoral fraud. The Canadian government welcomes the opportunity now available to the Venezuelan people to access freedom, democracy, peace, and prosperity.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added, \u201cTrue to its longstanding commitment to the rule of law, sovereignty, and human rights, Canada calls on all parties to respect international law. We support the sovereign right of the Venezuelan people to decide and build their own future in a peaceful and democratic society.\u201d<\/p>\n
The EU and European countries<\/p>\n
The EU expressed concern at the developments and urged respect for international law, even as it noted that Maduro \u201clacks legitimacy.\u201d<\/p>\n
French President Emmanuel Macron called for 2004 presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia to lead a political transition. France said the U.S. operation undermined international law, and no solution to Venezuela\u2019s crisis can be imposed externally.<\/p>\n
Germany Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that Maduro had \u201cled his country to ruin,\u201d but called the U.S. action legally \u201ccomplex.\u201d<\/p>\n
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was the only major European country to side with the U.S., arguing its military action in Venezuela was \u201clegitimate\u201d and \u201cdefensive.\u201d<\/p>\n
EU candidate country North Macedonia, along with fellow Balkan nations Albania and Kosovo, also backed Washington.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe stand with the United States and the Venezuelan people for freedom and democracy,\u201d North Macedonia Foreign Minister Timco Mucunski said on X.<\/p>\n
Britain, Israel<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK will discuss the \u201cevolving situation\u201d in Venezuela with U.S. counterparts while noting Britain will \u201cshed no tears\u201d about the demise of Maduro\u2019s \u201cregime.\u201d<\/p>\n
Israel also hailed the operation, saying Washington acted as the \u201cleader of the free world.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ukraine<\/p>\n
Ukraine, which is dependent on U.S. support in its war against Russia, did not address the legality of a big country like America using military force against a much smaller one like Venezuela.<\/p>\n
Ukraine Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga instead focused on Maduro\u2019s lack of legitimacy and the Venezuelan government\u2019s repression, while backing \u201cdemocracy, human rights, and the interests of\u00a0Venezuelans.\u201d<\/p>\n
China, Russia, Iran<\/p>\n
China made calls on Sunday for Maduro to be \u201cimmediately released\u201d after saying it \u201cstrongly condemns\u201d the U.S. operation in Venezuela.<\/p>\n
China\u2019s Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement that the U.S. is in \u201cclear violation of international law, basic norms in international relations, and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.\u201d<\/p>\n
Russia demanded the U.S. leadership \u201creconsider its position and release the legally elected president of the sovereign country and his wife.\u201d<\/p>\n
Iran, which Trump bombed last year, said it \u201cstrongly condemns the U.S. military attack on Venezuela and a flagrant violation of the country\u2019s national sovereignty and territorial integrity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Cuba<\/p>\n
Mexico, which Trump has also threatened with military force over drug trafficking, strongly condemned the U.S. military action in Venezuela, saying it \u201cseriously jeopardizes regional stability.\u201d<\/p>\n
Colombian President Gustavo Petro \u2014 whose country neighbours Venezuela \u2014 called the U.S. action an \u201cassault on the sovereignty\u201d of Latin America which would lead to a humanitarian crisis.<\/p>\n
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva slammed the U.S. attacks as a \u201cserious affront\u201d to Venezuela\u2019s sovereignty.<\/p>\n
Cuba, a strong ally of Venezuela, denounced \u201cstate terrorism against the brave Venezuelan people.\u201d<\/p>\n
UN<\/p>\n
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was \u201cdeeply alarmed\u201d by the U.S. strikes, with his spokesman quoting him as saying it could \u201cconstitute a dangerous precedent.\u201d<\/p>\n
With files from Agence France Presse.<\/p>\n
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