The U.S on Saturday captured Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Adela Flores de Maduro and launched “large-scale” strikes against the country what has been observed as the biggest US military build-up in the Americas since the Cold War.
The capture came after President Donald Trump ordered Saturday morning strikes on Venezuelan capital, Caracas, which is located within the Cardillera de la Costa mountain range in the northern part of Venezuela, near to the Caribbean Sea.
President via Truth Social announced “The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country. This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement. Details to follow. There will be a News Conference today at 11 A.M., at Mar-a-Lago. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
Trump did not give more details about how Maduro was captured or where he has been taken as he promised to provide more details in a Press conference.
The US has long suspected Nicolás Maduro of leading an intercontinental drug trafficking body, something that Maduro and his administration have denied. The US had offered a $50m reward for information leading to the arrest of Maduro.
Initially, Maduro accused the United States of an “extremely serious military aggression”.
“Venezuela rejects, repudiates, and denounces before the international community the extremely serious military aggression perpetrated by the current government of the United States of America against Venezuelan territory and people,” Maduro’s government responded
World leaders respond
Iran
In a statement, Iran’s foreign ministry said it “strongly condemns the American military attack on Venezuela and the flagrant violation of the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country”.
Russia
Moscow is deeply concerned and condemned an “act of armed aggression” against Venezuela committed by the United States, Russian Foreign Ministry said. “In the current situation, it is important… to prevent further escalation and to focus on finding a way out of the situation through dialogue,” the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry said “Venezuela must be guaranteed the right to determine its own destiny without any destructive, military intervention from outside.”
“We reaffirm our solidarity with the Venezuelan people and our support for its leadership’s policy of defending the country’s national interests and sovereignty, ” it added.
Spain
Madrid called for de-escalation, moderation and respect for international law in Venezuela, the Spanish Foreign Ministry said in a statement. It also offered itself as a negotiator to help find a peaceful solution in Venezuela.