United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed grave concern over the reported arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife by United States special forces, describing the action as a troubling development with far-reaching implications.
In a statement released on Saturday by UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric in New York, Guterres said the incident followed months of escalating tension between Washington and Caracas and risked undermining international norms.
The UN chief said he was alarmed by the deterioration of relations between both countries, which culminated in a US military operation in the early hours of Saturday. The operation was publicly announced by US President Donald Trump via his Truth Social account.
“The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, Nicolás Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the country,” Trump wrote, adding that the mission was carried out in collaboration with US law enforcement agencies.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi also confirmed that Maduro and his wife would face prosecution in the United States, stating that they would be subject to the American judicial process. Maduro was previously indicted in New York in 2020 during Trump’s first term in office.
Reports indicate that the US operation began with overnight strikes in and around Caracas, Venezuela’s capital. In response, the Venezuelan authorities declared a state of national emergency, although official figures on casualties and damage had yet to be released at the time of reporting.
The Venezuelan government condemned the action, describing it as a “grave act of military aggression”, and pointed to months of heightened pressure, including a significant US naval presence near its coastline, attacks on suspected drug trafficking vessels and the seizure of sanctioned oil tankers.
In its statement, the UN warned that, irrespective of the political situation in Venezuela, the manner of the intervention raised serious concerns. Guterres stressed that such actions could set a precedent that threatens regional stability and global adherence to international law.
“The Secretary-General underlines the need for all parties to fully respect international law, including the principles enshrined in the UN Charter,” the statement said, adding that he was worried that these principles may have been disregarded.
Guterres urged all sides to pursue dialogue through peaceful and inclusive means, in line with human rights standards and international legal frameworks.
Meanwhile, Venezuela has formally requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council to address the developments.
