The Constitutional Chamber of Venezuela’s Supreme Court ordered on Saturday (January 3, 2026) that Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez assume the role of acting president of the country in the absence of Nicolás Maduro, who was detained early Saturday (January 3) morning in an operation by U.S. forces.
Venezuela-U.S. conflict LIVE updates
Hours after an “stunning” military operation that plucked the Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from power and removed him from the country, President Donald Trump said Saturday (January 3, 2026) that the U.S. would run Venezuela at least temporarily and tap its vast oil reserves to sell to other nations. The plane carrying the deposed leader and his wife arrived in New York, where they are to face “narco-terrorism” conspiracy charges.
Following are reactions to Saturday’s U.S. strikes on Venezuela.
FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON
“The transition to come must be peaceful, democratic, and respectful of the will of the Venezuelan people. We hope that President Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, elected in 2024, will be able to ensure this transition as quickly as possible,” Macron wrote on X.
GERMAN CHANCELLOR FRIEDRICH MERZ
Merz said the legal assessment of the U.S. operation is complex and “we will take our time” to evaluate it, adding that principles of international law must apply. He urged that “a transition to a government legitimised by elections must be ensured” and warned that “political instability must not arise in Venezuela”.
SPANISH PRIME MINISTER PEDRO SANCHEZ
“Spain did not recognize the Maduro regime. But neither will it recognize an intervention that violates international law and pushes the region toward a horizon of uncertainty and belligerence”, Sanchez wrote on X.
UN SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTONIO GUTERRES
“Th
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