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Venezuelan envoy to South Africa condemns U.S. aggression as "kidnapping"
By Xinhua Published: Jan 04, 2026 09:00 AM
People demonstrate near the Miraflores Palace in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, on Jan. 3, 2026. The U.S. military launched a series of attacks against Venezuela early Saturday morning, reportedly capturing President Nicolas Maduro and flying him out of the country. (Photo: Xinhua)

People demonstrate near the Miraflores Palace in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, on Jan. 3, 2026. The U.S. military launched a series of attacks against Venezuela early Saturday morning, reportedly capturing President Nicolas Maduro and flying him out of the country. (Photo: Xinhua)


A person demonstrates near the Miraflores Palace in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, on Jan. 3, 2026. The U.S. military launched a series of attacks against Venezuela early Saturday morning, reportedly capturing President Nicolas Maduro and flying him out of the country. (Photo: Xinhua)

A person demonstrates near the Miraflores Palace in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, on Jan. 3, 2026. The U.S. military launched a series of attacks against Venezuela early Saturday morning, reportedly capturing President Nicolas Maduro and flying him out of the country. (Photo: Xinhua)



A person demonstrates near the Miraflores Palace in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, on Jan. 3, 2026. The U.S. military launched a series of attacks against Venezuela early Saturday morning, reportedly capturing President Nicolas Maduro and flying him out of the country. (Photo: Xinhua)

A person demonstrates near the Miraflores Palace in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, on Jan. 3, 2026. The U.S. military launched a series of attacks against Venezuela early Saturday morning, reportedly capturing President Nicolas Maduro and flying him out of the country. (Photo: Xinhua)



This photo taken on Jan. 3, 2026 shows damage caused by an airstrike at the port of La Guaira, Venezuela. The U.S. military launched a series of attacks against Venezuela early Saturday morning, reportedly capturing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and flying him out of the country. (Photo: Xinhua)

This photo taken on Jan. 3, 2026 shows damage caused by an airstrike at the port of La Guaira, Venezuela. The U.S. military launched a series of attacks against Venezuela early Saturday morning, reportedly capturing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and flying him out of the country. (Photo: Xinhua)



Venezuelan Ambassador to South Africa Carlos Feo Acevedo on Saturday strongly condemned U.S. military aggression against Venezuela, describing it as a "clear kidnapping" of President Nicolas Maduro and a serious violation of international law.

Acevedo made the remarks during an interview with Russia Today, a Russian media group. "It is a clear violation and a clear criminal terrorist act perpetrated by the U.S. administration against Venezuela," he said, accusing Washington of breaching international norms, including the UN Charter, as well as its own domestic laws.

The United States conducted "criminal strikes against the people of Venezuela," the ambassador said, noting that the objective was to exert control over the country's natural resources.

The U.S. military launched a series of attacks against Venezuela early Saturday morning, during which Maduro was captured and flown out of the country along with his wife. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro will face trial in the United States.

The military action against the South American nation has drawn widespread international condemnation, with multiple countries calling for a coordinated global response.