The US strike was anything but surgical, with over 80 reported dead and extensive destruction. The American military operation in Venezuela, which resulted in the arrest and extraction of President Nicolas Maduro, has caused more than just a political earthquake in Caracas. It has triggered a deep and open rupture in the international community, bringing a fundamental question to the fore: are we witnessing the end of international law or the reaffirmation of an order based on power and "freedom" as defined by the West?
Trump (US President): We have full control of Venezuela, we will strike Colombia and Iran, and we will annex Greenland
Following the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, US President Trump stated that the United States now controls Venezuela, threatened to use force against Colombia and Iran, and reiterated the need to annex Greenland. "Don't ask me who's in charge here, because I'll tell you, and the answer will be very convincing. We are in charge here," Trump declared. Trump called Venezuela a "dead country," stating that the United States must rebuild it. He claimed that American oil companies are eager to work in Venezuela and will invest in the country's infrastructure. 
Other statements by the American president included: — "Abduction" is the appropriate word for the operation to arrest Nicolas Maduro; — The operation against Venezuela was "quick, brutal," and "very violent"; — Nicolas Maduro surrendered "immediately" to American troops; — Elections in Venezuela will be held when the time is right; — All Americans injured during the US operation in Venezuela are "in good condition"; — The presence of US troops in Venezuela depends on further developments; — The United States is considering opening an embassy in Caracas; — The attack on Venezuela will not affect US relations with China; — Colombia is run by a "sick person" who produces cocaine; the US may carry out an operation against that country; — Cuba is ready to fall; — The United States needs Greenland; — From a defensive standpoint, the European Union needs the United States to possess this island.
Reactions worldwide were intense and revealing of today's multipolar world of conflicting narratives and increasingly contested international legitimacy. The number of victims from the US military operation in Venezuela stands at 80 dead, according to a report by the New York Times. The operation, which took place on January 3, 2026, and resulted in the arrest of President Nicolas Maduro, caused extensive destruction and loss of life, particularly in the capital, Caracas, and at military installations. The report notes that the death toll may rise further as the assessment of the aerial strikes continues. The number of dead contradicts US authorities' claims that the strike was supposedly perfectly surgical with no casualties. Meanwhile, Maduro is expected to be brought before a court in New York on Monday, January 5, 2026, where he will be formally charged, according to a Washington Post report.
These losses intensify international reactions and accusations of disproportionate use of force, while bringing back the debate over the legitimacy of the intervention and its humanitarian impact. This development adds new weight to the already acute international confrontation surrounding the events in Venezuela and increases pressure on Washington for explanations regarding the human cost of the operation.
Trump threatens: Rodriguez will pay dearly if she doesn't make the right decisions
US President Donald Trump warned that Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, will pay a "very high price" if she does not make the "right decisions," in an interview with The Atlantic. "If Delcy Rodriguez doesn't do the right thing, she will pay very dearly—possibly even more dearly than Maduro," Trump stated, escalating his rhetoric following the recent events. Trump also revealed that he had a telephone conversation with Maduro about a week before the military operation, urging him to surrender—a proposal the Venezuelan leader rejected. Washington, through the President and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has made it clear that it expects the new leadership to move in accordance with American demands for the country's transitional period.
Venezuela tears up the Trump ultimatum
Meanwhile, the decision of the Supreme Court of Venezuela to appoint Vice President Delcy Rodriguez as interim head of state marks a critical turning point in the conflict between national sovereignty and external imposition. At a time when the country's elected president, Nicolas Maduro, is in US custody following military intervention, Caracas is attempting to respond not with chaos, but by invoking the Constitution. The Supreme Court justified its decision as necessary to maintain constitutional order, referring to the "abduction" of the sitting president. This phrasing is not merely legal; it is deeply political. It implies that Venezuela does not recognize the legitimacy of American actions and treats the situation as a product of external violence rather than an internal crisis of power.
The decision is based on Article 239, paragraph 6 of the Venezuelan Constitution, which stipulates that in the event of the president's temporary absence, the vice president assumes duties for 90 days, with a possible 90-day extension by the National Assembly. With this move, the country's institutions are attempting to close the power vacuum before it becomes a pretext for external "management." It is no coincidence that the Supreme Court requested the immediate briefing of the Armed Forces, the National Defense Council, the top military leadership, and the National Assembly. The message is clear: the state is functioning, the chain of command remains active, and power is not being surrendered into a void.
The Trump statement and the ultimatum of "obedience"
Donald Trump had previously stated that the United States could take over the governance of Venezuela during the transition period—unless Rodriguez "carries out the will of Washington." This is a blunt formulation that reveals the true dilemma posed by the US: submission or replacement. Rodriguez's response was immediate and categorical. She stated that Venezuela "will not become a colony," demanded Maduro's release, and pledged to protect the country's natural resources. This rhetoric is aimed not only at the domestic audience but also at the international community, attempting to frame the conflict as a struggle for independence against a modern form of imperialism.
"The law of the jungle": Condemnation of the intervention
A series of states and leaders unequivocally condemned the actions of the United States, characterizing them as a blatant violation of international law and a dangerous precedent. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic was among the most direct. He stated that after the events in Venezuela, it became clear that international law and the UN Charter no longer function, as the world is dominated by "the right of the strong." According to him, this development forces states to reconsider their security—which explains Serbia's decision to drastically increase its military capabilities. A similar stance was taken by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who publicly condemned the violation of international laws, underlining that such actions undermine the international order.
The reaction from Cuba was particularly harsh. President Miguel Diaz-Canel described Maduro's arrest as an act of state terrorism and explicitly rejected the Monroe Doctrine, stating that Latin America is no one's "backyard." His statement highlighted the conflict as an existential battle for the region's independence. Beijing, through the Foreign Ministry, stated it was "shocked" by the use of US military force against a sovereign state, emphasizing that such actions threaten peace and stability in Latin America and the Caribbean. Brazilian President Lula da Silva spoke of an extremely dangerous precedent, warning that the normalization of such attacks is the first step toward a world of chaos, instability, and raw power.
Russia and Belarus: "Armed aggression"
Moscow characterized the American operation as an act of armed aggression, rejecting arguments for "legitimization" through charges against Maduro. The Russian Foreign Ministry underlined that Venezuela has the inalienable right to determine its future without external, and particularly military, interference. Belarus, through President Alexander Lukashenko, expressed full solidarity with the people of Venezuela, warning that a long-term conflict could evolve into a "second Vietnam" for the United States.
"The right to freedom": The other side
On the other hand, several states supported Washington's actions, adopting the narrative of "liberation from dictatorship." Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski stated that "if Maduro were a good leader, this wouldn't have happened," implying the responsibility lies solely with him. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar described the operation as "historical," praising Donald Trump as the "leader of the free world" and stating that Israel stands by the people of Venezuela. Ukraine, through Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga, stressed that it did not recognize the previous elections in Venezuela and that the country's people are entitled to security, prosperity, and dignity. French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Venezuela was "freed from dictatorship," expressing hope for a peaceful transition under new leadership. In the same vein, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke of being rid of a brutal dictatorship, noting that now is not the time to examine whether the US actions are legal.
Operation "Absolute Resolve" and the future of Venezuela
On the night of January 3, the US launched Operation "Absolute Resolve", hitting targets in Caracas and arresting Maduro and his wife. The charges of "narco-terrorism" and the plan to hold the trial in the US gave the operation a criminal veneer, but without international consensus. Trump stated that the US is ready to take over the governance of Venezuela during the transition period, even with the deployment of troops. The country's vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, replied that Venezuela will not become a colony and declared a state of emergency, characterizing the intervention as military aggression.
A world at a turning point
The case of Venezuela has revealed something deeper than a regional crisis. It has revealed a world divided between two irreconcilable perceptions: on one hand, the principle of state sovereignty and international law; on the other, the belief that power and a "moral mission" legitimize unilateral action. Whether this intervention will be seen in the future as a restoration of "freedom" or as the definitive confirmation of "the right of the strong" will be judged not only in Venezuela, but in the overall course of the international order in the coming years.
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