US Detains Venezuela’s Maduro, Sparks Global Outcry as UN Security Council Calls Emergency Meet

A day after capturing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, the United States authorities on Sunday began grilling him at a detention centre here, as the world leaders appeared sharply divided on the US operation and the UN Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting on the issue Monday.

A handcuffed Maduro was seen in a video, released by the US, staging a “Perp-walk” as he was led into custody. US media later said the Venezuelan leader was transferred on Sunday to the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in New York City where he was being questioned on drug-trafficking charges.

The United States launched an operation on Saturday and captured Maduro and his wife from their bedroom in a well-fortified residence in Caracas.

Meanwhile, the UNSC has decided to hold an emergency meeting on Monday on developments centring around Maduro's capture."The presidency intends to hold the emergency meeting on Monday at 10 am (1500 GMT)," said Khadija Ahmed, spokeswoman for the Somali Permanent Mission to the United Nations. Somalia holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council for January.

The issue also triggered widespread diplomatic fallout, as world leaders issued sharply divided reactions.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government was "monitoring developments" and urged restraint, while his British counterpart Keir Starmer commented that London was seeking clarity on the unfolding situation.

"I want to establish the facts first," Starmer said. "I want to speak to President Trump and to our allies... we continue to believe international law must be upheld."

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the operation, congratulating US President Donald Trump for what he described as "bold and historic leadership on behalf of freedom and justice."

Germany called on all sides to "avoid escalation"stressing that "international law has to be respected" and that Venezuelans "deserve a peaceful and democratic future."

The Chinese Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the US action, saying it was "deeply shocked" by the use of force.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said Maduro's capture "violates the principle of non-use of force that underpins international law."

Russia denounced the operation as an "armed aggression against Venezuela," warning that ideological hostility had overridden diplomacy and calling for dialogue to prevent further escalation.

In Latin America, Paraguay said it was closely monitoring events and called for democratic means to ensure an orderly transition. Bolivia reaffirmed its commitment to peace and regional coordination.

Panama's President José Raúl Mulino said Venezuela's crisis must be resolved through democratic processes that respect the will of voters, pointing to opposition claims surrounding the recent election.

Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva condemned the bombings as crossing "an unacceptable line."

Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa, however, took a confrontational stance, declaring that "the time is coming for all the narco-Chavista criminals."

Uruguay reiterated its rejection of military intervention by one state in another's territory, underscoring the importance of respecting the UN Charter and international law.

Chilealso condemned the US military action and called for a peaceful resolution to Venezuela's crisis, while Colombia's President Gustavo Petro said he viewed the strikes with "deep concern."

Iran joined the chorus of criticism, condemning the operation as a blatant violation of Venezuelan sovereignty and urging the UN Security Council to act immediately to halt what it described as unlawful aggression.

Trump also faced flak on the domestic front. Former US Vice President Kamala Harris strongly criticised the military action in Venezuela, calling it “unlawful and unwise”.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the US operation Absolute Resolve, under which Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was captured, an “act of war” and a "violation of international and federal law."

Venezuela's Supreme Court of Justice hasordered Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to immediately assume the role of acting president following Maduro's capture.

Trump has said that the US had placed Venezuela under temporary American control.

“We will run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” President Trump said. “We can’t take a chance that someone else takes over Venezuela who doesn’t have the interests of Venezuelans in mind.”