Following months of intimidation and coercive strategies, the United States has launched bomb strikes on Venezuela and displaced its leader, Nicolas Maduro.
Maduro and his spouse have been captured by U.S. forces. They have been moved to a detention facility in New York. There, he is being interrogated regarding purported “drug-trafficking” allegations.
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez condemned the “abduction” of Maduro, asserting he is “the sole president of Venezuela.”
Analysis – the Media Review Network’s stance
Speaking to VOC News, Dr. Ahmed Jazbhay, an executive member of the Media Review Network (MRN), described the move as “international thuggery.”
“Many people would say international law is now dead – we would argue that international law was never alive to begin with, and it was only meant to protect European Jews after the holocaust,” stated Jazbhay.
Afrika4Palestine’s stance – the human rights perspective
The human rights organisation released a statement condemning the U.S. bombing of Venezuela on Saturday, 3 January 2026, deeming it “a clear violation of international law.”
“This violent act of U.S. military aggression constitutes an unlawful assault on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and is a blatant breach of the United Nations (UN) Charter. It is, above all, an attack on the people of Venezuela,” remarked the organisation.
“Let us be clear: Venezuela is being targeted by the USA for its oil and rare earth minerals, which are highly valued resources. It is home to the world’s largest proven oil reserves. The objective is clear: to replace Venezuela’s elected government with a compliant regime that will act on behalf of the United States and in the interests of its corporations. This suggests the U.S. actions are motivated by both economic interests and a desire for geopolitical influence in the region,” added the organisation.
Furthermore, Legal and governance researcher Sherwyn Sean Cupido-Weaich has warned that global stability is at risk if powerful states ignore international law. Cupido-Weaichhas says the reported abduction of Venezuelan President Maduro and his wife undermines the UN Charter, which prohibits the use of force against sovereign states. He argued that criminal allegations or disputed elections do not justify military action, warning that normalising such conduct threatens international order.
Photo: @venanalysis/X
