By The South Asia Times

CARACAS/WASHINGTON — The United States’ military operation in Venezuela, announced by President Donald Trump and confirmed by the White House, has drawn sharp international condemnation and prompted concerns over the erosion of global norms, sovereignty, and regional stability.

Trump claimed that the strike resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, though the situation on the ground remains fluid.

Oxford historian Peter Frankopan warned that the alleged US operation could upend international norms: “If leaders can be seized and flown out of the country, the personal security of heads of state and diplomats worldwide is at risk,” he said on X, predicting a surge in “outsourced coups, regional instability, and an age of extreme uncertainty.”

Frankopan added that the US has demonstrated its willingness to act beyond the constraints of international law, raising questions about the future of multilateral diplomacy and global security.

UK MP Jeremy Corbyn called the strike “unprovoked and illegal,” describing it as a blatant attempt to seize Venezuela’s natural resources and a violation of sovereignty and international law.

Similarly, Venezuelan authorities have condemned the attack, with the Minister of the Interior urging citizens to remain calm and resist any efforts by foreign forces to destabilize the country.

Former US Army officer Jake Broe described the strike as “another American war for oil,” arguing that Washington is openly targeting Venezuela’s energy resources.

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, meanwhile, has vowed to turn the country into an “energy, technological, and democracy hub,” emphasizing the stakes in the battle over Venezuelan resources.

Hours before the US strike, Qiu Xiaoqi, Special Envoy of Chinese President Xi Jinping for Latin America and the Caribbean, had met with Maduro, underscoring the international attention on Venezuela’s strategic significance.

In the United States, lawmakers expressed concern over the legality of the operation. Rep. Melanie Stansbury tweeted: “The White House is confirming U.S. military operations in Venezuela tonight. Let us be clear: these strikes are illegal. The President does not have the authority to declare war or undertake large-scale military operations without Congress. Congress must act to rein him in immediately.”

Analysts warn that the stakes are global. Geopolitical strategist Ibrahim Majed noted that control over Venezuela’s oil — the world’s largest proven reserves — would allow the US to secure alternative energy sources, influence global oil pricing, and bolster its ability to project power in the Middle East, particularly against Iran. At the same time, a prolonged conflict could strain US military and economic resources, disrupt strategic planning for allies like Israel, and trigger resistance across Latin America.

The attack has prompted condemnation from multiple countries. Russia, China, and Cuba denounced the operation as a violation of international law, while Latin American governments including Mexico, Bolivia, and Nicaragua called for the immediate withdrawal of US forces and respect for Venezuela’s sovereignty. The United Nations also urged restraint and called for diplomatic resolution.

The Venezuelan Defense Minister appeared in a statement, asserting: “We will not negotiate, we will not surrender, and we will ultimately triumph,” signaling that resistance to the US intervention is likely to continue.

As global powers weigh their responses, observers warn that the outcome of the Venezuelan crisis will have consequences far beyond Latin America, potentially redefining energy control, the limits of American unilateral power, and the dynamics of 21st-century geopolitics.