Trkiye: Trkiye stresses stability in Venezuela, calls on all parties to 'act with restraint' in wake of US strikes Trkiye said Saturday that it places importance on stability in Venezuela and on the peace and well-being of the Venezuelan people. "In order to prevent the current situation from leading to adverse consequences for regional and international security, we call on all parties to act with restraint," said the country's Foreign Ministry in a statement following US strikes on Venezuelan soil and the reported capture of its president, Nicolas Maduro.
According to Anadolu Agency, Ankara is "closely" following recent developments in Venezuela, and the statement expressed Trkiye's readiness to help solve the crisis there within the framework of international law. "In this process, our Embassy in Caracas continues uninterrupted communication and necessary coordination with our citizens in the country," it concluded. Earlier, Venezuela's government accused the US of attacking civilian and military installations in multiple states, and declared national emergency.
On his social media platform Truth Social, US President Donald Trump confirmed that the US had conducted a "large scale" strike, adding that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife had been captured and flown out of the country. The attacks came after months of tension with the US, which accused Maduro of being involved in drug trafficking. Maduro denied being a cartel leader and had expressed readiness to hold talks.
New York Mayor Mamdani describes events as an 'act of war' New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on Saturday that he telephoned President Donald Trump 'directly' to voice opposition to what he called a 'pursuit of regime change' in Venezuela after the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife in an overnight operation. 'I called the president and spoke with him directly to register my opposition to this act,' Mamdani told reporters during a press conference.
He said his objection was rooted in opposition to a 'pursuit of regime change' and actions he believes violate federal and international law that should be upheld consistently. Earlier in the day, Mamdani posted on the US social media company X, calling the US operation in Venezuela 'an act of war' and a 'blatant pursuit of regime change.' 'I was briefed this morning on the U.S. military capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, as well as their planned imprisonment in federal custody here in New York City,' Mamdani wrote. 'Unilaterally attacking a sovereign nation is an act of war and a violation of federal and international law,' he added.
The mayor stressed that such 'blatant pursuit of regime change' not only affects those abroad, but its impact extends beyond Venezuela and could directly impact tens of thousands of Venezuelans living in New York. 'My focus is their safety and the safety of every New Yorker, and my administration will continue to monitor the situation and issue relevant guidance,' he added.
China: China on Saturday slammed the US for 'hegemonic acts' against Venezuela and its President Nicolas Maduro, referring to military strikes and the leader's capture, urging Washington to abide by the UN Charter. 'China is deeply shocked by and strongly condemns the US's blatant use of force against a sovereign state and action against its president,' a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said.
The remarks came after US President Donald Trump said Washington carried out a "large scale strike" against Venezuela, and that Maduro and his wife were captured and flown out of the country. 'Such hegemonic acts of the US seriously violate international law and Venezuela's sovereignty, and threaten peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean region. China firmly opposes it,' the spokesperson said. 'We call on the US to abide by international law and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and stop violating other countries' sovereignty and security,' the spokesperson said.
Earlier, Venezuela's government said the US attacked civilian and military installations in multiple states, and declared national emergency. The attacks came after months of tension, as the US accused Maduro of being involved in drug trafficking. Maduro denied being a cartel leader and had expressed readiness to hold talks. Separately, China's Foreign Ministry and the Chinese Embassy in Venezuela advised citizens to temporarily refrain from traveling to the Caribbean country. Chinese nationals and institutions in Venezuela are advised to closely monitor the local security situation, strengthen safety precautions and emergency preparedness, and avoid unnecessary outings, a statement said.
Russia: Russia on Saturday reaffirmed its support for the Venezuelan government and dismissed reports of Vice President Delcy Rodriguez's presence in the country as a "hoax" following a top-level phone call, the Foreign Ministry said. After speaking with Rodriguez, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed Russia's "firm solidarity with the people of Venezuela in the face of armed aggression," the ministry said in a statement regarding the conversation.
The ministry separately told state-run news agency Tass that recent claims suggesting Rodriguez was physically present in Russia were false. Iran: Iran has strongly condemned the US attack on Venezuela, describing it as a 'blatant violation' of the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity. 'The US military attack on Venezuela constitutes a clear violation of the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and the basic rules of international law, particularly Article 2, Paragraph 4 of the Charter, which prohibits the use of force,' the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday.
It 'condemned the United States' military aggression against Venezuela and the blatant violation of the country's national sovereignty and territorial integrity,' it went on. The attack is 'a textbook example of an act of aggression that must be explicitly condemned immediately by the United Nations and by all states concerned with upholding the rule of law, peace, and international security,' the statement added. The ministry also reaffirmed Venezuela's 'inherent right to defend its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and right to self-determination.'
Colombia: The US Embassy in Bogota on Saturday warned US citizens "not to travel to Venezuela" and urged those already there to shelter in place. The travel advisory came as US President Donald Trump said that Washington "successfully" carried out a "large scale strike" against Venezuela, claiming that President Nicolas Maduro and his wife have been captured and removed from the country.
The embassy said Venezuela remains under the highest travel advisory level - Level 4: Do Not Travel - citing severe risks to Americans, 'including wrongful detention, torture in detention, terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, crime, civil unrest and poor health infrastructure.' The travel advisory strongly encouraged all US citizens in Venezuela to 'depart immediately.'
'In March 2019, the U.S. Department of State withdrew all diplomatic personnel from U.S. Embassy Caracas and suspended operations. All consular services, routine and emergency, remain suspended. The U.S. government has no ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Venezuela,' it noted.
Belarus: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Saturday "categorically" condemned the US attack on Venezuela that led to the capture of President Nicolas Maduro. "The President of Belarus categorically condemns the act of American aggression against Venezuela," Natalia Eismont, Lukashenko's press secretary, told state news agency Belta.
"Alexander Lukashenko spoke about the consequences just recently in an interview with American journalists. Specifically, he said that 'this will be a second Vietnam.' And the Americans don't need that," she added. The Foreign Ministry also condemned the attack, underlining "direct threat to international peace and security." "Belarus expresses its unwavering support for the legitimate government of Venezuela and joins the call for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council, which bears primary responsibility for maintaining peace,' a statement said.
The ministry said the Venezuelan people's right to "independently determine their destiny is inviolable." "No form of external intervention, especially force, can be justified," the statement said.
France: A transition in Venezuela following the US capture of President Nicolas Maduro must be peaceful and respectful of the will of the Venezuelan people, said France's president on Saturday. "The upcoming transition must be peaceful, democratic, and respectful of the will of the Venezuelan people," Emmanuel Macron wrote on the US social media company X, accusing Maduro of "trampling on fundamental freedoms."
Saying that Maduro "gravely undermined" the dignity of his own people," he added that the Venezuelan people can only rejoice after Maduro's capture by the US. Macron said he hopes opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia swiftly ensures this transition. "I am currently exchanging with our partners in the region. France is fully mobilized and vigilant, including to ensure the safety of its nationals during these uncertain times," he added.
Israel: Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar claimed in a statement on X that the United States, under President Trump's leadership, is acting as 'the leader of the free world.' Saying that Israel stands with the 'suffering Venezuelan people,' Saar welcomed Maduro's overthrow and expressed hope for friendly relations between Israel and Venezuela.
Israel had previously criticized the Maduro administration and welcomed the awarding of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. Machado's open support for Israel and her close ties with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government have been on the international agenda.
Ukraine: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in a post on X that his country does not recognize the 'legitimacy' of the Maduro administration and supports developments that prioritize the interests of Venezuelans. Stating that Ukraine always defends the right of nations to live free from dictatorship, oppression, and human rights violations, Sybiha claimed that the Maduro government violates these principles in every respect.
He emphasized that Ukraine does not view the Maduro administration as legitimate, adding: 'The Venezuelan people should have a