Military strike, capture of Maduro condemned

Asia-Pacific nations widely condemned the United States' forcible capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, saying the shocking move over the weekend undermines peace and stability in Latin America and beyond.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said in a post on X that he was following the developments in Venezuela with "grave concern", noting that Maduro and his wife were forcibly seized in a US military operation of "unusual scope and nature" and that such actions "constitute a clear violation of international law and amount to an unlawful use of force against a sovereign state".

"President Maduro and his wife must be released without any undue delay", Anwar said, adding that history has shown that abrupt changes in leadership brought about through external force will bring more harm than good.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea strongly denounced the US action. A spokesperson from its Foreign Ministry said Washington "wildly violated the sovereignty of Venezuela" and the act shows "the rogue and brutal nature of the US".

The Iranian foreign ministry said in a statement that it "strongly condemns the US military attack on Venezuela and the blatant violation of the country's national sovereignty and territorial integrity", and stressed that the attack must "be explicitly and immediately condemned by the UN and by all states that are committed to the rule of law, as well as to international peace and security".

Singapore's foreign ministry said that while there were no Singaporeans e-registered with the ministry in Venezuela, it is "gravely concerned about the US intervention" on Saturday in the nation.

"Singapore has consistently opposed actions contrary to international law by any parties, including foreign military intervention in any country. Singapore urges all parties to exercise restraint and hopes for a peaceful resolution to the situation in Venezuela in accordance with international law and the principles of the UN Charter," the ministry said in a statement.

'Dangerous precedent'

Among other Southeast Asian nations, Indonesia expressed grave concern "over any actions involving the use or threat of force, which risk setting a dangerous precedent in international relations and could undermine regional stability, peace, and the principles of sovereignty and diplomacy".

A statement by the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines said Manila views with concern the evolving events in Venezuela and "their consequential impact on peace and stability in the region and rules-based international order".

Thailand's foreign ministry urged all parties involved to resolve the conflict peacefully with full respect for the UN Charter and international law.

Elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his country has long held concerns about the situation in Venezuela, and urged all parties to support dialogue and diplomacy to secure regional stability and prevent escalation.

New Zealand's Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters echoed a similar view, saying his nation expects all parties "to act in accordance with international law". Meanwhile, he advised New Zealand nationals not to travel to Venezuela.

India's Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement that recent developments in Venezuela are a matter of deep concern. "We are closely monitoring the evolving situation," it said.

Arie Afriansyah, a professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Indonesia, told China Daily that the US can be held accountable under international law.

"But the questions are: which state is brave enough to start the process against the US, and which forum for this effort? The US will surely veto any effort at the UNSC," said Afriansyah, referring to the UN Security Council.