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New Delhi: The United States military strikes on Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro triggered a polarised international response on Saturday, with major Latin American powers, China, Russia and Iran denouncing the action as illegal aggression while U.S.-aligned governments in the region celebrated what they called a step toward freedom.

The United Nations has warned that the operation sets a “dangerous precedent,” while the European Union, Germany and Britain adopted more cautious positions. There has also been no statement from India till now, other than a travel advisory issued late Saturday night.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep alarm over the escalation, which follows months of military build-up and the recent seizure of oil tankers by US forces.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, Guterres noted that the military action has “potential worrying implications for the region”.

“Independently of the situation in Venezuela, these developments constitute a dangerous precedent,” the statement read. “The Secretary-General continues to emphasise the importance of full respect – by all – of international law, including the UN Charter.”

The UN human rights chief, Volker Türk, also called for restraint, emphasising that the “protection of the people of Venezuela is paramount.” Venezuela has already formally requested an emergency session of the UN Security Council in New York.

The UN response comes as US President Donald Trump announced from Mar-a-Lago that the US intends to “run Venezuela” until a transition of power is complete, adding that US oil companies would be brought in to “modernise and renovate infrastructure.”

Several Latin American governments aligned with Caracas strongly condemned the US action, framing it as a violation of sovereignty and international law.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro emerged as the first international leader to react, posting a rapid series of messages on X as reports surfaced of missiles striking Caracas.

Petro, whose country borders Venezuela, said his government “rejects the aggression against the sovereignty of Venezuela and Latin America”, even as he shared what he described as videos of civilian casualties and posted the Venezuelan government’s statement in full.

After convening a national security council meeting at 3 am, Petro announced the deployment of Colombian security forces along the Venezuelan border in anticipation of a potential refugee crisis.

He added that Colombia’s embassy in Caracas was assisting nationals and said Bogota would seek to convene the United Nations Security Council. Calling for restraint, Petro urged Venezuelans to “find the paths of civil dialogue and its unity,” emphasising that “without sovereignty there is no nation”.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel issued one of the sharpest condemnations, denouncing what he described it as “state terrorism” and warning that Latin America and the Caribbean’s status as a “zone of peace” had been violated.

“Our #ZonaDePaz is being brutally assaulted. State terrorism against the brave Venezuelan people and against Our America,” Díaz-Canel posted on X, ending with the revolutionary slogan: “Homeland or Death We Shall Overcome!”

Chile struck a more measured but critical tone. President Gabriel Boric said his government condemned the U.S. military actions and called for a peaceful solution to the crisis, reaffirming Chile’s adherence to international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva declared that “the bombings on Venezuelan territory and the capture of its president cross an unacceptable line”.

“These acts represent a most serious affront to Venezuela’s sovereignty and yet another extremely dangerous precedent for the entire international community,” Lula wrote on social media. “Attacking countries, in flagrant violation of international law, is the first step toward a world of violence, chaos, and instability, where the law of the strongest prevails over multilateralism.”

The Brazilian president warned that “the action recalls the worst moments of interference in the........

© The Wire