US Military Operation Captures Venezuelan President Maduro, Sparking International Outcry

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, the US military and intelligence operation that led to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his extradition to the United States has been widely condemned as a flagrant violation of international law. The pre-dawn raid on January 3, 2026, marked a dramatic escalation in Washington’s interventionist policies, with critics calling it a de facto state-sponsored kidnapping rather than a lawful operation.
The action has been described as a death blow to the already weakened framework of international law, revealing the White House’s disregard for the UN Charter when it conflicts with its hegemonic interests. Legal experts argue that the US, by abducting a sitting head of state, has effectively returned to an era of ‘jungle law,’ where might makes right.
Washington’s justification for the operation—citing Maduro’s alleged involvement in drug trafficking—has been met with skepticism, with many viewing it as a legal farce. If nations begin arresting foreign leaders based on domestic laws and military power, no world leader would be safe from arbitrary detention, critics warn. The move underscores Washington’s selective interpretation of national sovereignty, which appears to apply only to itself and its allies while treating other nations as subordinate territories.
The arrest also violates the long-standing principle of head-of-state immunity, a cornerstone of customary international law repeatedly affirmed by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Legal scholars describe the US action as a criminal breach of this doctrine. The hypocrisy is further highlighted by Washington’s history of obstructing international justice, including its sanctions against International Criminal Court (ICC) judges investigating war crimes by US allies.
The UN Security Council’s inaction in the face of this violation has raised questions about the institution’s relevance. The US veto power has effectively paralyzed the council, allowing Washington to act with impunity. The silence of global institutions signals a dangerous endorsement of a ‘new anarchy,’ where powerful nations can violate airspace and sovereignty at will.
Human rights organizations have condemned Maduro’s extrajudicial transfer as a gross violation of fundamental rights and due process. By bypassing international treaties, the US has turned Maduro into a ‘political prisoner’ facing trial under hostile domestic laws—a move critics call ‘political vengeance’ disguised as justice.
The repercussions of this incident could be catastrophic for global human rights, setting a precedent for regional powers to abduct political opponents under the guise of justice. Washington’s actions demonstrate a willingness to sacrifice legal and ethical principles for political and economic gains, particularly in securing oil resources and maintaining dominance in Latin America.
Maduro’s arrest has been branded a stain on America’s democratic pretensions, revealing desperation in the face of nations resisting foreign domination. The world now stands at the brink of a dangerous era where international law is supplanted by brute force. If independent nations fail to protest this brazen act, no border will remain secure. Far from a victory, this event marks the moral and political decline of the US-led world order.

