Caracas, Venezuela – Following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. Special forces on Saturday, Venezuela has declared a state of national emergency as the country navigates a period of significant political upheaval. The move by the United States, announced by President Donald Trump via social media, has drawn condemnation from UN experts and raised concerns about a dangerous precedent for international law.
U.S. Attorney General officials stated that Maduro and his wife will face prosecution in Modern York on a 2020 narcoterrorism indictment. The operation began with overnight strikes in and around the capital, Caracas, according to reports. The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed being “deeply alarmed” by the escalation, calling the U.S. Military action a development with “potential worrying implications for the region.”
“Independently of the situation in Venezuela, these developments constitute a dangerous precedent,” Guterres said in a statement issued by UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric. “The Secretary-General continues to emphasize the importance of full respect – by all – of international law, including the UN Charter.”
The Venezuelan Government has denounced the U.S. Action as an act of “extremely serious military aggression,” following months of increasing tension. This included a significant military buildup off the Venezuelan coast and a series of strikes targeting alleged drug trafficking vessels. In recent weeks, the U.S. Ordered the seizure of sanctioned oil tankers, accompanied by threats of land operations to remove Maduro from power.
The U.S. Operation has been described by officials as a “surgical law enforcement operation” targeting indicted fugitives. Ambassador Mike Waltz, U.S. Representative to the United Nations, stated that Maduro is responsible for attacks on the people of the United States, destabilizing the Western Hemisphere, and repressing the Venezuelan people. He drew a parallel to the 1989 arrest of Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega, arguing that the current action will make the region safer.
According to early reports, 379 political prisoners are expected to be released in Venezuela. The United Nations has released a report detailing the fate of 30 officers from the national police force following Maduro’s removal. The situation remains fluid, and the long-term consequences of these events for Venezuela and the wider region are still unfolding. The development underscores growing regional tensions and the complex challenges of international intervention.
Experts from the UN have also expressed “serious reservations” regarding a recently enacted amnesty law in Venezuela, raising further questions about the rule of law and accountability in the country.
