Who condemns and who applauds Trump's operation against Venezuela?

BarcelonaThe reactions in the United States military operation against Venezuela The events surrounding the capture of President Nicolás Maduro serve as a guide to understanding Donald Trump's network of allies and rivals, both in Latin America and the rest of the world. They also highlight—once again—the double standards often applied in Europe regarding international conflicts.

The first to react was Colombian President Gustavo Petro—also a target of Trump—before the United States' involvement and Maduro's capture were confirmed. The leftist leader denounced the bombings and demanded an emergency UN meeting. "Right now they are bombing Caracas. Alert the whole world: they have attacked Venezuela. They are bombing with missiles," Petro wrote in a post on X. He then announced increased security along the Venezuelan border to respond to a potential mass influx of refugees.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez also spoke out early this morning, denouncing what he considers a "criminal attack" by the US against Venezuela and demanding an "urgent" response from the international community.

Several countries in the region have condemned the operation, with varying degrees of forcefulness, although there has been no unanimous rejection. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said that the bombings on Venezuelan territory and the capture of the president "cross an unacceptable line" and represent "a grave offense against Venezuela's sovereignty and another extremely dangerous precedent for the entire international community." "The action is reminiscent of the worst moments of interference in the politics of Latin America and the Caribbean and threatens the preservation of the region as a zone of peace," he warned. The Mexican government has also rejected the US military actions, which it has stressed violate the UN Charter, and has reaffirmed its willingness to support "any effort to facilitate dialogue, mediation, or accompaniment that contributes to preserving regional peace." The acting Chilean president, Gabriel Boric, has also called for a "peaceful solution" to the crisis and respect for international law. In contrast, José Antonio Kast, who will assume office in March, considered it "great news for the region." Other countries historically at odds with the US, such as Iran and Russia, have condemned the attack. The Russian Foreign Ministry condemned the aggression against Venezuela, criticizing that "the pretexts used to justify these actions are baseless" and calling for an end to further escalation of tensions.

One of the most anticipated reactions—which was long awaited—was that of China, which stated that it was "deeply shocked" and "strongly" condemned the use of force by the US against a sovereign country and the use of force against the president of a country. "China firmly opposes this hegemonic behavior by the US, which seriously violates international law, violates the sovereignty of Venezuela, and threatens peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean," said a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Milei and Noboa celebrate the operation

However, Trump has received some applause, primarily from his allies in the region. From Argentina, Javier Milei celebrated the operation. In a post on X, he shared a video of one of his speeches in which he refers to "the atrocious and inhumane dictatorship of the narco-terrorist Nicolás Maduro." He accompanied it with two written phrases: "Freedom advances" and his usual slogan:Long live freedom, damn it!"

Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa has also praised Washington's operation. "The time is coming for all criminals." narco-Chavistas"Its structure will eventually collapse across the entire continent," he wrote in X. And he addressed to the Venezuelan opposition leaders"To Corina Machado, Edmundo González, and the Venezuelan people: it is time to reclaim your country. You have an ally in Ecuador." The presidents of Paraguay and Costa Rica also celebrated Maduro's capture.

Trump also received support from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who congratulated him "for his courageous and historic leadership in the name of freedom and justice."

From Ukraine, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha did not condemn the US operation, but emphasized the Venezuelan regime's human rights violations. "Ukraine has consistently defended the right of nations to live freely, without dictatorships, oppression, and human rights violations. The Maduro regime has violated all these principles in every way," he asserted. He added that they hope future events will unfold "in accordance with the principles of international law, prioritizing democracy, human rights, and the interests of Venezuelans."

Spain and the EU remain neutral

The reaction in Europe was rather cautious. The European Union has limited itself to calling for respect for "the principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations." "We call for restraint," said the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, who confirmed in a message to X that she had spoken with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, although she did not provide any details. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, emphasized that the EU "stands with the people of Venezuela" and supports "a peaceful and democratic transition." Similarly, Spain is calling for "de-escalation and restraint" and urging the parties to act in accordance with international law and the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. From London, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has received criticism from the opposition for not condemning the operation. "First, I want to establish the facts. I want to speak with President Trump. I want to speak with the allies," he said. premierwho stressed that the United Kingdom was not involved in the attack and called for respect for international law. In contrast, other European leaders have been more explicit in celebrating the operation. French President Emmanuel Macron applauded the fall of "the Nicolás Maduro dictatorship" and said he hopes Edmundo González Urrutia "can ensure the transition as soon as possible."