Progressive Latin American leaders are warning that the United States military operation in Venezuela represents a shift toward a world where the strongest nations impose their will rather than respecting multilateral institutions and international law. The Saturday strikes that captured President Nicolás Maduro have triggered concerns about the future of global governance structures.
Brazil’s President Lula stated that attacking countries in blatant violation of international law represents the first step toward a world of violence, chaos, and instability where the law of the strongest prevails over multilateral cooperation. Chile’s Gabriel Boric echoed these concerns, emphasizing that such actions undermine the foundations of peaceful international relations.
The warnings from leftist leaders reflect broader anxieties about whether the international order based on the UN Charter and established legal norms can survive if major powers act unilaterally without regard for institutional constraints. The operation has been condemned by the UN Secretary General as setting a dangerous precedent.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi has announced that Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores will face drug trafficking charges in New York, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirming the charges relate to narcotics operations. President Trump stated the couple is currently aboard a ship being transported to the United States for prosecution.
The international response has divided along political and ideological lines, with major powers including China, Russia, and European nations condemning the operation while some right-wing governments offered support. Colombia has mobilized its armed forces in anticipation of refugee flows, and security analysts question whether external military intervention can achieve democratic transformation or will simply perpetuate cycles of instability.