The world is still trying to come to grips with what happened yesterday in Venezuela. The U.S. has taken over the government and ousted Nicolás Maduro.
International reactions continue to pour in as global leaders criticize Trump’s invasion of Venezuela
The new year has started off with a bang as Donald Trump unilaterally, and without authorization from the U.S. Congress, authorized a military intervention in Venezuela early Saturday morning.
Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores were extracted by U.S. military forces are currently in New York, where they will face criminal charges. After Trump’s press conference on Saturday, we know his plans are for troops to remain in the country with the objective of running the country in Caracas. Trump admitted that the objective was to take over the country’s oil supply and sell Venezuelan oil internationally.
What are global leaders saying about Trump’s attack on Venezuela?
China has responded to Trump’s order to attack Venezuela and has stated that it will protect its assets in Venezuela: “Chinese interest in Venezuela will be protected by law.”
China just declared war.
— Shanaka Anslem Perera ⚡ (@shanaka86) January 5, 2026
Not with missiles. With lawyers.
“Chinese interest in Venezuela will be protected by law.”
Read that again. Beijing didn’t threaten military action. They announced something far more dangerous to American power:
They’re going to make regime change… pic.twitter.com/M2a1FzNtlv
President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo cites Article 2, parragraph 4 of the United Nations charter: ““Members of the Organization shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.””
El Artículo 2, párrafo 4 de la Carta de las Naciones Unidas dice textualmente:
— Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo (@Claudiashein) January 3, 2026
“Los Miembros de la Organización, en sus relaciones internacionales, se abstendrán de recurrir a la amenaza o al uso de la fuerza contra la integridad territorial o la independencia política de…
Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy explains Europe’s position on the U.S. attack on Venezuela: "The right of the Venezuelan people to determine their future must be respected,“ she said on X:
My statement supported by 26 EU Member States on the aftermath of the U.S. intervention in Venezuela ↓ pic.twitter.com/CsgKXvvjUw
— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) January 4, 2026
President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, has been very vocal in his dislike of the Trump Administration and has answered the U.S. president’s threats to attack Colombia: “Stop slandering me, Mr. Trump. That’s not how you threaten a Latin American president.”
No es si Maduro es bueno o malo, ni siquiera si es narcotraficante, en los archivos de la justicia colombiana después de medio siglo de lidiar con las mafias más grandes de la cocaína, no aparecen los nombres de Nicolás Maduro ni de Cilia Flores. Quienes han llegado a denunciar…
— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) January 5, 2026
Trump and Russia go back all the way to 80s. The relationship between Putin and Trump is complex and it’s difficult to know to what extent Putin knew about Venezuela. Russia has officially condemned the U.S. attack on Venezuela, which could be expected due to the close ties between the countries.
The best take on today's attack on Venezuela is likely the most cynical: that it is staged and transactional. Trump wouldn't attack Russia's ally without permission - but in 2019 Putin offered Trump a swap: Russia cedes Venezuela and gets Ukraine. @davetroy as usual called it. 2/ pic.twitter.com/e0PdT2KH19
— capitolhunters (@capitolhunters) January 3, 2026
The Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney. calls on the U.S. to respect international law. “I affirmed Canada’s support for a peaceful, Venezuelan-led transition of power — one that respects the democratic will of the Venezuelan people.”
I spoke with María Corina Machado today. I affirmed Canada’s support for a peaceful, Venezuelan-led transition of power — one that respects the democratic will of the Venezuelan people.
— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) January 5, 2026
President Zelensky of Ukraine doesn’t hold back on the parallels with Russia: “If it’s possible to deal with dictators like that, just like that, then the United States knows what to do next.”
OH SH*T: After the U.S. captured Maduro, Zelensky didn’t mince words about Putin:
— Brian Allen (@allenanalysis) January 3, 2026
“If it’s possible to deal with dictators like that, just like that, then the United States knows what to do next.” pic.twitter.com/WcgGL8e47U
Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel posted on X: "We are closely following the developments and are in contact with our embassy in Venezuela, the Ministry of Defence, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Our primary focus is on the safety of Dutch nationals in Venezuela and of the Kingdom."
De situatie in Caracas is nog onduidelijk. We volgen de ontwikkelingen op de voet en staan in contact met onze ambassade in Venezuela, Defensie en de Landen. Onze aandacht gaat in de eerste plaats uit naar de veiligheid van Nederlanders in Venezuela en van het Koninkrijk.
— David van Weel (@ministerBZ) January 3, 2026
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