The U.S. military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has drawn alarm from governments worldwide, including close U.S. allies and longtime adversaries of Caracas.

President Donald Trump said the United States would “run” Venezuela and tap its vast oil reserves, and posted a photo of Maduro in custody aboard a U.S. naval ship, blindfolded and in handcuffs. Maduro and his wife are being taken to New York to face narcotics and terrorism charges.

Russia and Iran, longtime backers of Maduro, swiftly condemned the operation. Concern also came from U.S. allies in Europe and Latin America, many of which warned of violations of international law and regional instability.

Russia
Moscow demanded the U.S. leadership “reconsider its position and release the legally elected president of the sovereign country and his wife.”

China
Beijing said it was “deeply shocked” and “strongly condemns the US's blatant use of force against a sovereign state and its action against its president.”

Iran
Tehran said it “strongly condemns the US military attack on Venezuela and a flagrant violation of the country's national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

Mexico
Mexico condemned the U.S. military action, saying it “seriously jeopardises regional stability.”

Colombia
President Gustavo Petro called the operation an “assault on the sovereignty” of Latin America and warned it could trigger a humanitarian crisis.

Brazil
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva described the U.S. strikes as a “serious affront” to Venezuela’s sovereignty.

Cuba
Havana denounced “state terrorism against the brave Venezuelan people.”

Spain
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the intervention “violates international law and pushes the region toward a horizon of uncertainty and militarism.”

France
France said the operation undermined international law and stressed that Venezuela’s crisis cannot be resolved through external imposition. President Emmanuel Macron called for opposition figure Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia to lead a political transition.

Germany
Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Maduro had “led his country to ruin,” but described the U.S. action as legally “complex.”

European Union
The EU expressed concern and urged respect for international law, while noting Maduro “lacks legitimacy.” EU candidate North Macedonia, joined by Albania and Kosovo, backed Washington.
“We stand with the United States and the Venezuelan people for freedom and democracy,” North Macedonia Foreign Minister Timco Mucunski said.

Britain
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK would discuss the “evolving situation” with U.S. counterparts, while noting Britain would “shed no tears” over the fall of Maduro’s “regime.”

Italy
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the U.S. operation “legitimate” and “defensive,” in a rare show of support among major European states.

Israel
Israel praised the action, calling the United States the “leader of the free world.”

Ukraine
Ukraine avoided addressing the legality of the operation, instead citing Maduro’s lack of legitimacy and backing “democracy, human rights, and the interests of Venezuelans.”

South Africa
Pretoria said: “Unlawful, unilateral force of this nature undermines the stability of the international order and the principle of equality among nations.”

United Nations
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was “deeply alarmed,” warning the operation could “constitute a dangerous precedent.”