Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro reportedly captured by United States after meeting Chinese officials
Russia and China have condemned what they describe as a US military operation in Venezuela that resulted in Nicolás Maduro and his wife reportedly being taken into US custody and flown to New York. US President Donald Trump publicly announced that US forces captured Maduro following a large-scale strike and said his administration would temporarily “run” Venezuela and oversee a transition. The situation has drawn sharp international criticism, with Beijing condemning the use of force against a sovereign state and Moscow demanding clarification and stressing that the action may violate international law.
Reports from international media and state television footage confirm that Maduro met with a high-level Chinese delegation hours before the reported US operation. The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation between Venezuela and China, reaffirming their strategic ties. Shortly after that meeting, the United States announced the military action. The timing of the meetings and the operation has heightened global concerns about geopolitical tensions and the implications for US-China relations.
The United Nations Security Council is set to meet to address the situation amid broader geopolitical debate. Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has been declared interim leader by the Venezuelan government in response to the US action, while the United States insists the move is part of a broader effort to pursue legal charges and stabilise the country. The legality and ramifications of the capture continue to unfold.
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