A prominent anti-imperialist organisation based in Europe has issued a strong condemnation of the United States for its military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The group labels the action a 'kidnapping' and a severe breach of international norms that risks escalating global tensions.
Details of the Condemnation and US Operation
In a statement released on January 3, 2026, the International Anti-Imperialist Cumbe (European Chapter) detailed its accusations. The coalition stated that in the early hours of that day, the United States launched a large-scale military assault on Venezuelan soil. This operation, they claim, resulted in the seizure of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
The Cumbe described the act as a multifaceted violation, constituting a breach of international law, an assault on Venezuelan sovereignty, and a direct attack on world peace. They emphasised that the raid was carried out unilaterally, without any provocation or an international mandate, showing open contempt for the principles of the United Nations Charter.
Washington has acknowledged that Maduro and Flores are now in US custody, having been transferred to New York and held at a federal detention facility. US authorities justify the arrests based on long-standing indictments that accuse the Venezuelan leader of drug trafficking and collaborating with criminal organisations. The Venezuelan government has repeatedly denied these allegations.
Conflicting Justifications and Global Reactions
Former US President Donald Trump publicly defended the operation, stating it was necessary to protect American security interests and fight transnational crime. He further declared that the United States would oversee Venezuela's governance until conditions allowed for a proper political transition.
The anti-imperialist coalition firmly rejected this justification. They branded the forced removal of a sitting head of state as an act of piracy, state terrorism, and neo-colonial aggression. The group warned that this event marks a dangerous new level of US interventionism in Latin America and the Caribbean.
"Sovereignty is the cornerstone of international coexistence," the Cumbe's statement read. "The violation of Venezuelan airspace, territorial waters, and political institutions is an attack not only on Venezuela but on the entire framework of territorial integrity that protects nations from external domination."
The coalition also accused Trump of revealing Washington's true motives, pointing to his comments that referenced Venezuela's vast oil reserves. "These declarations expose the true nature of this assault: a colonial seizure disguised as humanitarian concern," the statement asserted.
International Fallout and Calls for Action
Reactions from the international community have been divided. Russia condemned the operation and advised its citizens against travel to Venezuela, while Spain warned it sets a dangerous precedent. The European Union viewed the crisis as a potential opportunity for a Venezuelan-led political transition but reiterated its commitment to sovereignty and international law.
The Cumbe also criticised Venezuelan opposition figures residing in Florida, accusing them of aligning with US interests to advocate for sanctions, destabilisation, and now military intervention. The statement accused these elites of promoting narratives that serve foreign corporations rather than the Venezuelan people.
Furthermore, the coalition warned against the weaponisation of human rights discourse to justify what it called economic plunder. It alleged that some internationally celebrated figures have supported foreign intervention in exchange for access to Venezuela's strategic sectors.
The group's demands are clear:
- The immediate and unconditional release of Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores.
- An end to all US military operations against Venezuela.
- A return to diplomatic solutions.
The statement concluded with a stark warning: "This aggression threatens all nations resisting imperial domination." The Cumbe urged global condemnation, cautioning that continued escalation could destabilise the entire region and erode the foundational pillars of international law.
