United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that the reported capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife by United States special forces represents “a dangerous precedent” and risks undermining international law. Mr Maduro was first indicted in New York in 2020 during Mr Trump’s initial term in office, on charges linked to drug trafficking. The Venezuelan government denounced the action as an “extremely serious military aggression” by the United States, saying it followed months of rising tensions between the two countries. The UN statement noted that the Secretary-General was “deeply alarmed by the recent escalation in Venezuela, culminating with today’s United States military action in the country, which has potentially worrying implications for the region”. “Independently of the situation in Venezuela, these developments constitute a dangerous precedent,” the statement said.

Source: Punch January 04, 2026 01:54 UTC