Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) has welcomed the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026, calling it a liberation from dictatorship and urging a swift, peaceful transition to democracy while respecting international law. Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard (M) agreed, stating the government has no regrets over Maduro's fall.
Kristersson issued a written statement to TT: 'The Venezuelan people have now been freed from Maduro's dictatorship. But all states also have a responsibility to respect and act in accordance with international law.' He described Venezuela under Maduro—who succeeded Hugo Chávez in 2013—as 'one of the world's harshest socialist dictatorships,' noting Sweden's long-standing criticism of Maduro's lack of democratic legitimacy, especially after the disputed 2024 election.
Stenergard emphasized: 'Respecting the Venezuelan people's will and achieving a negotiated, democratic, and peaceful solution is the only way for Venezuela to restore democracy and resolve the ongoing crisis. Dictator Nicolás Maduro lacks democratic legitimacy. The Swedish government sheds no tears over his loss of power.' The government is monitoring developments closely.
Reactions elsewhere vary. Russia condemned the U.S. 'armed aggression,' while EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas expressed concerns over the operation despite recognizing Maduro's illegitimacy. Legal experts like Mark Klamberg and Dag Blanck argue it likely breaches international law. Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, a recent Nobel Peace Prize winner, is positioned to lead a democratic transition, though risks remain with Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López's refusal to surrender.
The capture follows U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of temporary governance oversight, including oil sector control, amid plans to try Maduro in the U.S. for drug crimes. This echoes the Monroe Doctrine and Trump's Latin America strategy.