People in Doral, Fla., react to the news of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s capture in a U.S. military action Saturday in Caracas. Such criticism came from Democratic leaders, international allies and adversaries including Mexico, France, China and Russia, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and experts on international law and wartime powers. Naval War College, said Trump’s actions were a “clear violation” of international law. Schmitt said the operation in Venezuela went far beyond a normal law enforcement action. But even if it were just a law enforcement action, he said, the U.S. would still lack legal authority under international law to engage in such activity on Venezuelan soil without the express permission of Venezuelan authorities — which it did not have.

Source: Los Angeles Times January 03, 2026 23:13 UTC