Diplomatic row deepens after US military captures Venezuelan leader
Tensions between global powers have reached a boiling point following a dramatic US military operation in Caracas. On Sunday, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a stern statement demanding the immediate Nicolas Maduro release, condemning the American action as a violation of international norms.
In a strongly worded message released on social media, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) threw its full support behind the captured Venezuelan leader. Describing Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, as the "legitimately elected leaders" of a sovereign nation, Moscow urged Washington to reconsider its aggressive stance. The Kremlin emphasized that the path to stability lies in negotiation, not force. "We highlight the need to create conditions for resolving any existing issues between the United States and Venezuela through dialogue," the MFA stated.
The diplomatic firestorm was ignited by a covert US operation that President Donald Trump described as "dark and deadly." According to reports, American military forces, in coordination with law enforcement, executed a raid in Caracas to capture Maduro and Flores. They were subsequently flown out of Venezuela to face the American judicial system.
President Trump hailed the mission as a historic victory for US law enforcement. He confirmed that both detainees have been indicted in the Southern District of New York. The charges leveled against them are severe, including alleged participation in "drug trafficking and narco-terrorism conspiracies." Trump stated that the couple would soon face the "full might of American justice," with authorities currently deciding whether the high-profile trial will take place in New York or Florida.
However, the operation has sparked significant backlash within the US itself. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani vehemently criticized the move, labeling it an "act of war" and a "violation of international law."
Mamdani expressed deep concern for the local implications of this geopolitical maneuver. "Unilaterally attacking a sovereign nation is an act of war," Mamdani said, noting that he had been briefed on plans to imprison the Venezuelan leader in federal custody within New York City. He warned that such "blatant pursuit of regime change" could endanger New Yorkers and specifically impact the tens of thousands of Venezuelan nationals who call the city home.
As the international community watches closely, the demand for Nicolas Maduro release by a major power like Russia signals a potential deepening of the rift between Moscow and Washington, turning the legal proceedings against the Venezuelan leader into a global diplomatic flashpoint.
