Several countries, including Venezuela’s neighbours and long-standing allies, have condemned the recent United States military operation in Venezuela, as Spain offered to mediate toward a peaceful resolution of the crisis.
International reactions followed claims by US President Donald Trump that American forces had carried out a large-scale strike on Venezuela and taken President Nicolas Maduro into custody.
Authorities in Caracas described the action as a serious military aggression against the country and announced a state of emergency, while allied nations expressed concern over the impact on regional stability.
Iran, which maintains close diplomatic and economic ties with Venezuela, strongly criticised the US action, describing it as a violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro also condemned the strike, calling it an attack on Latin America’s sovereignty and warning that it could trigger a humanitarian crisis.
Petro urged the United Nations Security Council to convene an emergency meeting on the situation.
Cuba, another regional ally of Venezuela, accused Washington of what it described as state-sponsored violence, urging the international community to respond to what it termed an unlawful attack on the Venezuelan people.
Russia expressed strong disapproval of military operation, describing it as an act of armed aggression. The Russian Foreign Ministry said the justification offered for the strike was unacceptable and warned of dangerous consequences.
Spain, while calling for calm, offered to facilitate dialogue among the parties involved. The Spanish Foreign Ministry urged restraint and said it was ready to support a negotiated and democratic solution to the crisis.
Germany said it was closely monitoring developments in Venezuela and maintaining contact with its diplomatic mission in Caracas. Berlin added that its crisis management team was coordinating with international partners.
Italy also said it was following the situation closely, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni maintaining contact with the country’s foreign affairs officials, particularly regarding the safety of Italian citizens in Venezuela.
In the United States, some Democratic lawmakers criticised the military action. Senator Brian Schatz said Washington had no vital national interest that justified war with Venezuela.
Another senator, Ruben Gallego, described the operation as illegal and said the US had no reason to engage in armed conflict with the South American country.
Former Bolivian President Evo Morales, a close ally of Caracas, also rejected the US action, condemning what he described as the bombardment of Venezuelan territory.
Meanwhile, reports from Caracas indicated heightened military activity around key installations, including the Fuerte Tiuna military complex, as security forces increased their presence in the capital.
The situation remains tense, with calls from several countries for de-escalation and diplomatic engagement to prevent further deterioration of security in the region.
