Global Outrage Over U.S. Military Attack on Venezuela

Caracas: Global outrage continued to grow following the United States’ military attack on Venezuela, with several countries condemning the assault as a dangerous violation of sovereignty and international law, and warning of serious consequences for regional peace.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro drew international attention to the attack through a series of posts on social media, stating that the world must be alerted to the U.S. action against Venezuela. Reiterating Colombia’s position, Petro said peace, respect for international law, and the protection of human life and dignity must prevail over any form of armed confrontation. In another statement, he said Colombia firmly rejects the aggression against the sovereignty of Venezuela and Latin America as a whole. Amid rising tensions, Petro later announced the deployment of Colombian military forces along the Venezuelan border.

Cuba reacted with one of the strongest condemnations, accusing Washington of carrying out a criminal act against Venezuela. President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez said the U.S. attack amounted to state terrorism and represented a brutal assault on Latin America’s long-declared “zone of peace.” He said the aggression was aimed not only at the Venezuelan people but at the entire region, often referred to as “Our America.” He concluded his statement with the revolutionary slogan, “Homeland or Death, We Shall Overcome.” Cuban embassies across the world echoed this position, denouncing the U.S. military action and calling for an urgent response from the international community to stop state terrorism.

Iran’s foreign ministry also strongly condemned the American military attack, saying it constituted a flagrant violation of Venezuela’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Tehran warned that such actions further destabilise the region and undermine international norms.

Russia expressed deep concern over what it called an act of armed aggression committed by the United States. The Russian Foreign Ministry said it was essential to prevent further escalation and stressed the need to resolve the situation through dialogue rather than military force. Moscow said Venezuela must be guaranteed the right to determine its own destiny without destructive external intervention, reaffirming its solidarity with the Venezuelan people and support for the country’s leadership in defending national sovereignty and interests.

In contrast, senior figures in the United States openly defended the military operation. Republican Senator Mike Lee claimed that Washington had completed its action in Venezuela after capturing President Nicolás Maduro. He said the Trump administration had informed him that no further military steps were planned and that Maduro would face criminal charges in the U.S., remarks that intensified criticism of Washington’s disregard for international law and sovereign rights.

The European Union adopted a cautious stance. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said she had spoken with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the EU ambassador in Caracas regarding the developments. “The EU is closely monitoring the situation in Venezuela,” Kallas said in a statement on X. “The EU has repeatedly stated that Mr Maduro lacks legitimacy and has defended a peaceful transition. Under all circumstances, the principles of international law and the UN Charter must be respected. We call for restraint." She added that ensuring the safety of EU citizens in Venezuela remained a top priority.

Spain called for de-escalation, moderation and respect for international law, offering to act as a mediator to help find a peaceful solution. Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said her government was closely monitoring developments, particularly to ensure the safety of Italian citizens in Venezuela. She noted that around 160,000 Italians, many of them holding dual citizenship, currently live in the country.