A large part of erstwhile President Nicolas Maduro’s security team was killed in the US raid that led to the leader’s Saturday capture, Venezuelan Defense Minister General Vladimir Padrino said in a televised statement on Sunday morning.
Padrino did not give an exact figure of casualties, but backed a declaration of Vice President Delcy Rodriguez as interim president and said the armed forces have been activated across the country to guarantee sovereignty.
US President Donald Trump on Sunday said Rodríguez may pay a bigger price than ousted leader Nicolas Maduro “if she doesn’t do what’s right,” according to an interview with The Atlantic magazine.
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Meanwhile, many countries have reacted to Saturday’s US strikes on Venezuela.
SOUTH AFRICAN DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS:
“South Africa calls on the UN Security Council, the body mandated to maintain international peace and security, to urgently convene to address this situation,” a statement by the South African Department of International Relations said.
JOINT STATEMENT FROM BRAZIL, CHILE, COLOMBIA, MEXICO, SPAINAND URUGUAY:
“We express our deep concern and rejection of the military actions carried out unilaterally in the territory of Venezuela, which contravene fundamental principles of international law.”
“Such actions set an extremely dangerous precedent for regional peace and security and for the rules-based international order, in addition to endangering the civilian population.”
“We reiterate that the situation in Venezuela must be resolved exclusively by peaceful means, through dialogue, negotiation, and respect for the will of the Venezuelan people in all its expressions, without external interference and in accordance with international law.”
FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON:
“The transition to come must be peaceful, democratic, and respectful of the will of the Venezuelan people. We hope that President Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, elected in 2024, will be able to ensure this transition as quickly as possible,” Macron wrote on X.
GERMAN CHANCELLOR FRIEDRICH MERZ:
Merz said the legal assessment of the US operation is complex and “we will take our time” to evaluate it, adding that principles of international law must apply.
He urged that “a transition to a government legitimised by elections must be ensured” and warned that “political instability must not arise in Venezuela”.
ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU:
“Congratulations, President real Donald Trump for your bold and historic leadership on behalf of freedom and justice. I salute your decisive resolve and the brilliant action of your brave soldiers.”
CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY:
“China is deeply shocked and strongly condemns the use of force by the US against a sovereign country and the use of force against the president of a country,” a ministry statement said.
