Latin American Countries Condemn US Attacks on Venezuela

Several Latin American countries ocondemned US military strikes in Venezuela, following President Donald Trump’s announcement of a large-scale operation that led to the capture of the country’s president.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel denounced the attack in a post on X, calling for an urgent response from the international community. He said the region was under brutal assault and described the operation as state terrorism against the Venezuelan people and Latin America as a whole.

Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez also strongly criticized the action, calling it a cowardly attack on a country that posed no threat to the United States or others.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro rejected any unilateral military action that could worsen the situation or endanger civilians. In a separate statement, Petro said he convened a national security council meeting and ordered forces to the border in preparation for a possible influx of refugees.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said the bombing and capture of Venezuela’s leader crossed an unacceptable line. He described the US action as a serious violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty and warned it set a dangerous precedent for the international community. Lula urged the United Nations to respond firmly.

Earlier, Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Yván Gil said he spoke by phone with Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, who expressed strong condemnation of the US action. Gil thanked Brazil for its support.

Chilean President Gabriel Boric voiced concern and condemned the attacks, calling for a peaceful resolution to Venezuela’s crisis. He said the situation should be addressed through dialogue and reaffirmed Chile’s commitment to international law.

Mexico also strongly condemned the US military operation. In a statement, the foreign ministry said the attacks violated the UN Charter and called for respect for international law and an immediate end to the assault. It added that dialogue is the only solution and offered to help facilitate talks.

Trinidad and Tobago said it had no involvement in the attacks. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar stated that the country maintains peaceful relations with Venezuela, rejecting claims of any role in the operation.

Meanwhile, countries aligned with the United States in the region expressed support for the military action against Venezuela.

Argentine President Javier Milei, who was endorsed by Donald Trump during Argentina’s recent election, shared a news report claiming that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro had been captured. He added a brief message celebrating the development and praising what he described as the advance of freedom.

El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele also reacted on social media, reposting an earlier message related to Venezuela’s government. The post referenced a past prisoner exchange and suggested that Caracas was now outraged because it no longer had leverage over the United States.

President Trump later confirmed the operation on his Truth Social platform, stating that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, had been captured and flown out of Venezuela.

Earlier, Venezuelan authorities accused the United States of striking both civilian and military facilities across several states and declared a national emergency.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro and Flores have been formally charged in New York. In a post on X, she said the pair face multiple charges, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine trafficking conspiracy, and weapons-related offenses involving machine guns and destructive devices.

She said both would face trial in US courts and be held accountable under American law.