THE US abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has received condemnation from around the world, though Western leaders and their allies either applauded Washington’s aggression or limited themselves to weak expressions of concern about international legality.

Left-wing leaders across Latin America were scathingly critical.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio “Lula” Da Silva wrote on X that “attacking countries in flagrant violation of international law is the first step toward a world of violence, chaos and instability.”

In Colombia, President Gustavo Petro branded the strikes an “assault on the sovereignty” of the region, while Chile’s President Gabriel Boric expressed “concern and condemnation.”

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel accused Washington of a “criminal attack,” while Uruguay said it “rejects, as it always has, military intervention.”

A spokesman for United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres said he was “deeply concerned that the rules of international law have not been respected” and that he was “deeply alarmed” by the strikes, which set a “dangerous precedent.”

China said it was “deeply shocked and strongly condemns” the use of force against a sovereign country, while Russia accused the US of “an act of armed aggression.”

Posting on X, French President Emmanuel Macron said the transition of power “must be peaceful, democratic and respectful of the will of the Venezuelan people.”

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the legality of the US operation was “complex” and international law in general must apply.

However, Norway’s Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide stressed that “international law is universal and binding for all states,” adding: “The American intervention in Venezuela is not in accordance with international law.”

In Washington, Senate Democratic minority leader Chuck Schumer said: “Let me be clear, Maduro is an illegitimate dictator, but launching military action without congressional authorisation, without a federal plan for what comes next, is reckless.”

Among those who fully supported the US action were Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Argentinian President Javier Milei.