Fire at Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela's largest military complex, is seen from a distance after a series of explosions in Caracas on January 3, 2026. The US military was behind a series of strikes against the Venezuelan capital Caracas on Saturday, which reportedly led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, US media reported. Photo: AFP

Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, a spokesperson for the DPRK Foreign Ministry and several Latin American leaders have condemned the US military operation to seize Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife over the weekend.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, Anwar described the action as a clear violation of international law and an unlawful use of force against a sovereign state.

He said he was monitoring developments with grave concern, calling the seizure unprecedented in scope and nature. Anwar also stressed that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, must be released without delay. 

He warned that the forcible removal of a sitting head of government through external intervention sets a dangerous precedent. "It erodes fundamental restraints on the use of power between states and weakens the legal framework that underpins the international order," he said.

The Foreign Ministry of the DPRK strongly denounces the US hegemony-seeking act committed in Venezuela as the most serious form of encroachment of sovereignty and as a wanton violation of the UN Charter and international laws with respect for sovereignty, non-interference and territorial integrity as their main purpose, a DPRK Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Sunday in response to a question raised by KCNA.

"We are paying attention to the gravity of the present Venezuelan situation caused by the US high-handedness act, in connection with the increase of instability to be added to the already weakened regional situation," the spokesperson said, adding that "The incident is another example that clearly confirms once again the rogue and brutal nature of the US which the international community has so frequently witnessed for a long time."

The international community should recognize the seriousness of the present Venezuelan situation, which caused a catastrophic consequence to fixing the structure of regional and international relations, and raise voices of due protest and denunciation against the US habituated violation of sovereignty of other countries, said the spokesperson.

Many Latin American leaders also condemned the US actions.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Saturday on his X that the bombings on Venezuelan territory and the capture of its president cross an unacceptable line. These acts represent a most serious affront to the sovereignty of Venezuela and yet another extremely dangerous precedent for the entire international community. 

According to the BBC News, Colombian President Gustavo Petro called the strikes an "assault on the sovereignty" of Latin America, while Chile's President Gabriel Boric expressed "concern and condemnation" and called for "a peaceful solution to the serious crisis affecting the country". 

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Cane accused the US of a "criminal attack", while Uruguay said in an official statement that it was monitoring developments "with attention and serious concern" and "rejects, as it always has, military intervention," per the report. 

Global Times