Following the US 'Absolute Resolve' raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and killed much of his security detail, new condemnations have emerged from the African Union, South Africa, and others, while reactions vary globally amid calls for UN intervention.
Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino confirmed in a Sunday televised address that a large portion of Maduro's security team was killed during Saturday's US raid, though exact figures were not provided. He backed Vice President Delcy Rodríguez's claim to interim presidency and mobilized armed forces to defend sovereignty.
US President Donald Trump warned Rodríguez she 'may pay a bigger price than ousted leader Nicolás Maduro if she doesn’t do what’s right,' echoing his prior praise for the operation.
The African Union called the situation 'troubling,' urging political dialogue and a UN Security Council session, expressing solidarity with Venezuela. South Africa's foreign ministry decried the raid as a UN Charter violation, demanding an urgent UNSC meeting.
A coalition of Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Spain, and Uruguay rejected the 'unilateral military actions' as illegal and risky for civilians, advocating dialogue without interference.
French President Emmanuel Macron supported a transition led by opposition figure Edmundo González Urrutia. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized international law in any government change. Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump's leadership, contrasting China's 'deep shock' and condemnation of force. In Nigeria, former Senator Shehu Sani criticized the lack of US congressional approval and sovereignty respect. The UN warned of regional stability threats.
These reactions build on initial responses to the raid, which resulted in at least 40 Venezuelan deaths and Maduro's transfer to New York for narcoterrorism charges.
