Russia and China Condemn Reported US Capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro

January 3 2026

Moscow and Beijing sharply criticized the United States on Saturday following reports that US forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro during a military operation in Caracas raising fears of a wider international crisis.

Russia denounced the action as a violation of international law and an act of aggression against a sovereign state. The Russian Foreign Ministry said the operation undermines global stability and sets a dangerous precedent for the use of force to remove foreign leaders. Moscow demanded immediate clarification on Maduras status and called for his release stressing that political disputes must be resolved through dialogue not military intervention.

Russian officials reiterated their support for Venezuelas sovereignty and warned that unilateral actions by Washington risk escalating tensions far beyond Latin America. While Russia did not announce any direct military response it signaled that the incident would be raised in international forums including the United Nations Security Council.

China also condemned the reported operation though in more restrained language. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said it strongly opposes interference in the internal affairs of other countries and called the US action a breach of the principles of sovereignty and non intervention. Beijing urged all parties to remain calm and avoid further escalation emphasizing the need for a peaceful political solution to the Venezuelan crisis.

China stopped short of explicitly backing Maduro personally but reaffirmed its long standing position that Venezuelas future should be decided by its own people without outside pressure. Officials stressed that instability in Venezuela could have broader regional and global consequences.

Both Russia and China are key political and economic partners of Venezuela and have consistently opposed US sanctions and pressure campaigns against the Maduro government. Analysts say their reactions reflect a shared opposition to US unilateral military actions but also a reluctance to be drawn into a direct confrontation with Washington.

As international reactions continue to unfold diplomatic efforts are expected to intensify at the United Nations where Russia and China are likely to push for emergency discussions on the legality and consequences of the reported US operation.