Global Shock
The U.S.-led overnight capture of Nicolás Maduro
stunned the international system,
challenging ideas of state sovereignty and
limits on unilateral action.
Supporters called it overdue accountability,
while critics warned it undermined international norms.
Major Power Response
China and Russia condemned the move as destabilizing and
selective enforcement of international law.
Both warned it could normalize forcibly removing leaders and
make smaller states feel increasingly vulnerable.
Mixed Regional Views
Latin American reactions were divided,
with some governments
denouncing renewed interventionism and
others cautiously welcoming Maduro’s
removal while worrying about precedent.
Some U.S. allies supported the action but urged legal clarity.
Broader Implications
The episode intensified debate over global governance in a multipolar world,
raising concerns about authority, justice,
and who decides when international rules no longer apply.