Jinping, Maduro and Putin.

Global leaders on Saturday reacted sharply to the US attack on Venezuela and the arrest of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. Some leaders expressed concern and urged restraint, while others supported Washington’s move. According to US President Donald Trump, Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were arrested in the US attack on the capital Caracas and will face criminal charges in New York.

This attack and arrest were strongly criticized by major global countries including Russia and China. The Russian Foreign Ministry urged the US leadership to reconsider its stance and release the legitimately elected president of a sovereign country and his wife.

“We emphasize the need to create conditions to resolve existing issues between the US and Venezuela through dialogue,” the ministry said in a post on Telegram. China condemned the US air strikes, calling them totalitarian acts that seriously violate international law.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said that China is shocked by the US’s open use of force against a sovereign state and the action taken against its President and strongly condemns it. The ministry further said that China strongly opposes this. We call on the United States to abide by international law and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and to stop violating the sovereignty and security of other countries.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called these attacks and Maduro’s arrest unacceptable and said that this is the most serious attack on Venezuelan sovereignty and a very dangerous example for the entire international community. Attacking countries in gross violation of international law is the first step towards a world full of violence, anarchy and instability, where the law of the strongest prevails over multilateralism, he said in a Facebook post. He further said that this threatens the continuity of Latin America and the Caribbean region as a peaceful region.

Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said that the EU is closely monitoring the situation in Venezuela and urged restraint and appealed to respect the UN Charter. In a post, Kallas said he spoke to Foreign Minister Marco Rubio and the EU ambassador to Caracas.

He said the EU has repeatedly said Maduro lacks legitimacy and supported a peaceful regime transition. In any circumstances, the principles of international law and the UN Charter must be respected. We call for restraint. The safety of EU citizens in the country is our top priority.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Britain was not involved in the US operation in Venezuela and that he would try to get additional information from Trump. Starmer said that he always believes that international law should be followed. He said that but I think at this time, in a rapidly changing situation, let us first find out the facts and then move forward.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called for de-escalation and responsibility and said in a post on social media that the principles of international law and the UN Charter must be respected. Meanwhile, Trump’s ally Argentinian President Javier Milli supported the development.

Responding to the news of US intervention in Venezuela, he said in a post on social media that freedom is moving forward. Long live freedom! Argentine media gave this report. Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa said in a post, “All Narco Chavista criminals, your time is coming.” Your entire system will collapse across the entire continent.

In a press conference after Maduro’s arrest, Trump said that the United States will govern Venezuela until a safe transfer of power occurs. He also said that the US would exploit Venezuela’s vast oil reserves and sell ‘large quantities’ of oil to other countries.