South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has strongly condemned the recent U.S. military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, calling it a violation of international law and a threat to regional and global peace. The U.S. conducted Operation Absolute Resolve on January 3, 2026, in which special forces and air strikes were used in and around Caracas to capture Maduro and Cilia Flores and transfer them to the United States to face federal charges including narcotrafficking. The operation caused significant casualties among Venezuelan and Cuban security forces and civilians, and prompted Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez to declare a week of national mourning.
Speaking at an event in Soweto, Ramaphosa said the action undermines Venezuela’s sovereignty and breaches the UN Charter, and he demanded the immediate release of Maduro and his wife. He urged the United Nations Security Council to intervene, warning that unilateral military interventions set a dangerous precedent that could destabilize other nations. The global response has been sharply divided: China, Russia and several other countries have condemned the U.S. action as unlawful and destabilizing, while other governments have expressed varying degrees of support or caution, highlighting deep geopolitical splits over the legality and implications of the U.S. strike.
