United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed deep concern over the reported capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife by U.S. special forces, describing the action as “a dangerous precedent”.
In a statement issued on Saturday in New York by UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, Guterres said he was “deeply alarmed” by the escalating standoff between the United States and Venezuela, which reportedly culminated in the early-hours operation.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), U.S. President Donald Trump announced the military action via his Truth Social account, stating that U.S. forces had carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela, resulting in the capture of Maduro and his wife, who were allegedly flown out of the country.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi also confirmed the development, saying Maduro and his wife would face trial in the United States, adding that they would “face the full wrath of American justice on American soil”. Maduro had earlier been indicted in New York in 2020 during Trump’s first term in office.
Reports indicate that the U.S. operation began with overnight strikes in and around Caracas. In response, the Venezuelan government declared a state of national emergency, although casualty figures and the extent of damage have yet to be confirmed.
Venezuela strongly condemned the action, describing it as an “extremely serious military aggression” by the United States. The incident followed months of heightened tension, including a U.S. military build-up off Venezuela’s coast, strikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels, and the seizure of sanctioned oil tankers.
Guterres warned that the development could have far-reaching consequences beyond Venezuela. “Independently of the situation in Venezuela, these developments constitute a dangerous precedent,” the statement said, stressing the need for full respect for international law and the UN Charter.
He called on all parties to exercise restraint and engage in inclusive dialogue grounded in human rights and international law. Venezuela has since formally requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council in New York to address the situation.
