U.S. Seizes Venezuelan President Maduro, Sparking International Condemnation

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was seized by the United States on January 5, 2026. The action has been described by some as an abduction and has drawn sharp criticism from several countries and the United Nations, which argued it makes the world less safe and signals impunity.

China's foreign ministry lambasted the U.S. move and the prospect of a trial, stating no country should place its rules above international law. Meanwhile, Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado outlined her ambitions for the country following Maduro's fall.