Russia and China demand release of Nicolás Maduro after US forces seize Venezuelan president in dramatic Caracas raid

The fallout is spreading fast after Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela’s president, was dramatically captured by US forces during a covert overnight operation in Caracas.

The 63-year-old leader and his wife, Cilia Flores, were seized from their bedroom in the early hours of Saturday, setting off an international firestorm that continues to grow by the hour.

Moscow Steps In With a Furious Response

Russia was among the first to react, demanding Maduro’s immediate release and condemning Washington in the strongest possible terms.

Speaking before the UN Security Council, Russia’s ambassador Vasily Nebenzya accused the United States of committing an act of armed aggression in Caracas, calling the operation a blatant breach of international law.

Moscow insisted there was no justification for what it described as crimes against a sovereign state, urging the US to reverse course and free what it called Venezuela’s legally elected president and his wife.

Inside the Raid That Captured Maduro

According to reports, the operation was carried out by the US Army’s elite Delta Force unit after intelligence agencies tracked Maduro’s movements for weeks.

American troops entered his heavily guarded compound under cover of darkness, taking the couple by surprise as they slept.

The raid was swift, precise, and reportedly bloodless, with no US casualties. A helicopter extraction followed, spiriting Maduro and Flores out of Caracas. US President Donald Trump is said to have personally authorised the mission.

Washington’s Bigger Plans Come Into Focus

The arrest has also thrown fresh light on Washington’s intentions in Venezuela. Trump has openly suggested that the US will take charge of rebuilding the country’s oil sector, with American firms poised to move in and overhaul what he described as a broken system.

Venezuela holds vast oil reserves that remain largely untapped, and US officials have made little effort to hide their interest in taking control of production and infrastructure.

Beijing Pushes Back Over Oil and Sovereignty

China responded sharply, warning Washington to stay away from Venezuelan oil and calling for the immediate release of Maduro and his wife. Beijing said the operation violated international law, the UN Charter, and basic rules governing relations between states.

Chinese officials stressed that long-standing oil agreements with Caracas remain legally protected, despite US claims it would effectively run the country. They also urged Washington to stop trying to destabilise Venezuela’s government and return to diplomacy.

A Close Relationship Years in the Making

China’s ties with Venezuela stretch back decades, deepening under Hugo Chávez after he took power in 1998. Chávez moved Caracas away from Washington and toward Beijing, praising China’s political model and forging strong economic links.

That partnership survived Chávez’s death in 2013, with Maduro continuing the relationship. He even sent his son to study at Beijing’s elite Peking University. In return, China poured billions into Venezuelan refineries, energy projects, and infrastructure as Western sanctions tightened.

Why Maduro’s Arrest Stings Beijing So Deeply

Chinese customs data shows Beijing bought roughly $1.6 billion worth of Venezuelan goods in 2024, with oil accounting for about half of that total. For China, Maduro’s sudden capture is not just political but economic.

One Chinese official, briefed on a meeting between Maduro and a senior Chinese envoy just hours before the arrest, admitted the episode was a major blow. Beijing had hoped to be seen as a reliable partner to Caracas, not a powerless bystander.

Oil Tankers Flee as Tensions Escalate

As diplomatic rows intensified, more than a dozen oil tankers loaded with Venezuelan crude were reported to have fled the country. The vessels are believed to be trying to evade US forces amid fears Washington could seize shipments as part of its wider intervention.

The sudden scramble at sea underlines how quickly the situation is spiralling beyond politics into global energy markets.

China Takes the Fight to the United Nations

China’s top diplomat Wang Yi accused the US of behaving like a self-appointed global judge. Speaking in Beijing, he warned against any country acting as the world’s police, stressing that sovereignty and security must be protected under international law.

While he avoided naming the US directly, his comments about the “sudden developments in Venezuela” left little doubt about Beijing’s target.

Tehran and Pyongyang Join the Condemnation

Iran also weighed in, denouncing the capture as illegal and calling for Maduro’s release. Tehran said abducting a head of state was nothing to boast about and reaffirmed its close ties with Venezuela, despite Maduro being taken to New York to face trial.

North Korea echoed that view, branding the operation a serious violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

A Crisis That Is Still Unfolding

With Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea all lining up against Washington, the diplomatic stakes continue to rise. The UN is expected to become the next battleground as questions mount over legality, sovereignty, and what happens next to Venezuela.

This story is still developing, and more details are expected as governments around the world respond to one of the most dramatic foreign policy moves in recent years.

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