Iran and Russia Join International Chorus Condemning US Military Action in Venezuela

Venezuela’s regional allies and political partners strongly criticized a major US military strike on the country on Saturday, while Spain stepped forward with an offer to mediate and push for a peaceful resolution.

US President Donald Trump earlier announced that American forces had captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and flown him, along with his wife, out of the country.

In response, the Venezuelan government condemned the operation as an “extremely serious military aggression” by Washington and declared a state of emergency. Leaders aligned with Caracas across Latin America and beyond quickly denounced the US action.

Iran
Iran, which maintains close political and energy ties with Venezuela, sharply criticized the strike. Tehran said the attack amounted to a blatant violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and strongly condemned Washington’s actions.

Colombia
Colombian President Gustavo Petro described the operation as an assault on Latin America’s sovereignty and warned that it could trigger a major humanitarian crisis. As Colombia currently holds a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council, Petro called for an immediate emergency meeting of the body.

Cuba
Cuba also reacted forcefully. President Miguel Díaz-Canel accused the United States of committing “state terrorism” against the Venezuelan people and urged the international community to respond to what he described as a criminal attack on Caracas.

Russia
Russia labeled the strike an act of armed aggression. In a statement, the Russian foreign ministry said the attack was deeply alarming and unjustifiable, adding that ideological hostility had overridden pragmatic diplomacy.

Spain
Spain adopted a diplomatic tone, calling for restraint and de-escalation. Its foreign ministry said Madrid was ready to help facilitate a democratic, negotiated, and peaceful solution to the crisis.

Germany
Germany said it was closely monitoring developments. The foreign ministry noted it was in constant contact with its embassy in Caracas and confirmed that Berlin’s crisis response team was actively coordinating with international partners.

Italy
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s office said she was following the situation closely and remained in continuous contact with Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, particularly to assess the safety of Italian citizens in Venezuela.

US Democratic lawmakers
In the United States, several Democratic senators criticized the move. Senator Brian Schatz said the country had no vital national interest in Venezuela that would justify war, warning against another costly foreign conflict. Senator Ruben Gallego also condemned the operation, calling it illegal and unnecessary, and said it damaged America’s global standing.

Former Bolivian president Evo Morales
Former Bolivian leader Evo Morales, a close ally of Caracas, said he firmly rejected what he described as the US bombardment of Venezuela.

The sharp international reactions highlight growing global concern over the escalation and its potential consequences for regional stability.