Venezuela, Russia, China, and the United Kingdom have called on the United States to release Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, following their capture during U.S. military operations over the weekend. The move sparked strong criticism at a special UN Security Council session in New York on Monday, where Russia and China denounced the U.S. action as a violation of international law.
Russia described the U.S. operation as “a return to lawlessness and domination by force,” while China warned that no nation can act as the world’s police or assume the role of international judge. Both countries, permanent members of the UN Security Council, criticized the U.S. for pursuing unilateral political and economic objectives through military means. “The arbitrary use of force only escalates crises and undermines the international order,” the Chinese delegation said. Similar positions were voiced by Cuba, Iran, Colombia, and the Non-Aligned Movement, all of which called Maduro Venezuela’s legitimate president and described his detention as a breach of head-of-state immunity.
Conversely, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Panama, and Chile rejected Maduro’s legitimacy and condemned the U.S. operation, advocating for a peaceful democratic transition led by Venezuelan society. In London, hundreds of protesters rallied outside Downing Street, chanting “free Maduro” and urging Prime Minister Keir Starmer to challenge the U.S. action. Meanwhile, Maduro and Flores appeared in a New York court on Monday, pleading not guilty to drug-related charges. The Venezuelan government, backed by Russia and China, requested the UN Security Council session, arguing that the U.S. operation violated the UN Charter and threatened regional and global stability.