标签： North America

A significant wave of dissent swept across the United States as coordinated demonstrations unfolded in over 100 cities, including New York, Washington D.C., and Los Angeles. The protests, organized under the banner “No War on Venezuela,” were a direct response to the recent U.S. military operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

In the heart of Manhattan’s Times Square, hundreds of activists gathered on Saturday, brandishing placards with messages such as “Hands Off Venezuela,” “US Out of Caribbean,” and “No War for Venezuelan Oil.” The crowd’s chants of “Defend Venezuela, Free Maduro” reverberated through the iconic urban landscape, creating a powerful visual and auditory statement against American foreign policy.

Protest participants expressed strong condemnation of what they characterized as imperialist aggression. Karen, a middle-aged New Yorker among the demonstrators, articulated a common sentiment: “This war is not about drugs—it is about Venezuela’s oil. How do you have the right to step in Venezuela, to attack Venezuela? It feels like we act as criminals.”

International perspectives joined the chorus of criticism. Hassan, a college student from Pakistan, observed that while U.S.-led regime change efforts were not novel, the current operation represented a departure from previous justification narratives. “At least it wore a mask, like in the name of restoring democracy in the Middle East,” Hassan noted. “However, today it takes the mask off. This is quite nakedly about oil and natural resources.”

The protest movement gained organizational support from the Answer Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism), which issued a statement condemning the bombing of Caracas and Maduro’s capture. The anti-war group emphasized the human and economic costs of military intervention, stating: “A US war would cause death and destruction to the people of Venezuela. The war machine consumes an unimaginable amount of our tax dollars while working families struggle to make ends meet.”

Speakers at the rallies directly challenged President Trump’s announcement that the United States would “run” Venezuela until a “safe, proper and judicious transition” could be implemented. One Times Square speaker denounced this approach as arrogance, referencing Trump’s statement about claiming Venezuelan resources: “The Venezuelan people will not accept the United States running their country or stealing their oil, gas, gold, or any resources. There will be strong resistance. No, that age is over.”

The international community has erupted in widespread condemnation following a controversial US military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture and extradition of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife to New York. The Saturday operation has triggered diplomatic shockwaves across global capitals, with multiple nations characterizing the action as an unprecedented violation of sovereign state principles.

Multiple governments have issued formal protests against what they describe as a flagrant breach of international law. The operation has particularly strained relations between Washington and several allied nations, while drawing fierce criticism from traditional US adversaries. Regional analysts note that this development represents one of the most significant escalations in Western Hemisphere relations in recent decades.

Across Latin America and the Caribbean, political leaders have expressed grave concerns about the implications for regional stability. The operation has sparked immediate protests in several capitals, including demonstrations outside US embassies in Mexico City and Bogotá. In Caracas, Venezuelan citizens gathered in significant numbers to denounce what they perceive as foreign intervention in their nation’s sovereignty.

Meanwhile, the Russian government has officially denied reports that Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has sought refuge in Moscow, dismissing such claims as misinformation. The Kremlin has joined other nations in condemning the US operation while calling for an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council.

The Biden administration faces mounting domestic criticism from both political parties, with legislators questioning the legal justification and strategic wisdom of the operation. Legal experts are debating whether the extraction violates extradition treaties and international norms regarding sovereign immunity for sitting heads of state.

Political analysts from the United Arab Emirates have characterized the United States’ military operation resulting in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro as establishing a profoundly ‘troubling precedent’ that degrades the established framework of international law. The action, confirmed by US President Donald Trump via a post on Truth Social, involved large-scale strikes on Venezuelan territory and culminated in the detention of Maduro and his wife, who were subsequently transported to a New York detention facility to face drug and weapons charges.

This dramatic escalation follows months of heightened tensions between the two nations, during which President Trump repeatedly advocated for regime change in Venezuela and issued an ultimatum in November for Maduro to relinquish power. Experts assert that while the US has a history of unilateral military interventions, directly targeting and extracting a sitting head of state from a sovereign nation marks an unprecedented evolution in foreign policy.

Jesse Marks, CEO of Rihla Research & Advisory LLC, condemned the maneuver as a descent into ‘mafia-style politics,’ ushering in a ‘new era of Godfather-style foreign policy.’ He emphasized that the operation was conducted without congressional approval, a UN Security Council mandate, or any recognized legal framework, thereby constituting a ‘persistent degradation of international law.’

Emirati columnist Eisa Eisa Abdalla AlZarooni noted the strategic use of language by the Trump administration, which framed the operation not as a conventional intervention but as a ‘national security’ and judicial action by linking the Venezuelan leadership to organized crime. This narrative, AlZarooni argues, is a tactical tool to justify the use of military force outside a UN mandate, effectively redefining sovereignty not as a guaranteed right but as a state’s ability to protect itself—a shift he labeled ‘dangerous’ for the global order.

The aftermath presents significant challenges. Dr. Paulo Botta of TRENDS Research & Advisory drew parallels to the 1990 capture of Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega, suggesting the impact will resonate most profoundly on the rules of the international system itself, where ‘pure realism reigns supreme.’ Internally, Venezuela faces a critical power vacuum concerning control over its armed forces, intelligence services, and financial flows. Kristian Alexander of Rabdan Academy warned that ensuing chaos could empower drug traffickers and criminal elements to expand their influence, exploiting a lack of governance. Alexander concluded that regardless of its branding as law enforcement, the forceful capture of a sitting leader to oversee governance constitutes de facto regime change.

Thousands of Venezuelan citizens converged near the Miraflores Palace in Caracas on Saturday, January 3rd, 2026, in a massive demonstration against unprecedented military operations conducted by United States forces. The protests erupted following confirmed reports that American troops had launched coordinated strikes against Venezuelan targets in the early hours of the morning, resulting in the capture and extradition of the nation’s sitting president, Nicolás Maduro.

Eyewitness accounts describe a sea of Venezuelan flags and anti-American banners flooding the streets surrounding the presidential residence as demonstrators voiced their outrage at what many are calling a blatant violation of international sovereignty. The spontaneous gathering represents one of the largest public mobilizations in recent Venezuelan history, with participants from diverse political backgrounds uniting in their condemnation of foreign military intervention.

Security forces maintained a visible presence throughout the demonstrations, which remained largely peaceful despite heightened tensions. The Venezuelan military has been placed on highest alert following the early morning attacks, with acting leadership declaring a state of national emergency and vowing to pursue all diplomatic and legal avenues to address what they term ‘an act of international aggression.’

International reactions have been swift and divided, with several Latin American governments expressing alarm at the unilateral action while others have reserved judgment pending further investigation. The United Nations Security Council is expected to convene an emergency session to address the escalating crisis, which marks one of the most significant direct military interventions in the Western Hemisphere in decades.

The capture and removal of President Maduro represents an unprecedented escalation in the long-standing political standoff between Washington and Caracas, raising serious questions about international law norms regarding sovereignty and the use of military force against elected governments, regardless of their political orientation.

The United Arab Emirates witnessed a remarkable display of national unity as the nation’s leadership collectively honored Dubai’s Ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, for his two decades of transformative governance. On January 4, 2026, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed initiated the tributes with a heartfelt public message recognizing his counterpart’s “inspiring record of achievements and future-focused vision.”

The presidential commendation highlighted how Sheikh Mohammed’s leadership has “continue[d] to advance the UAE’s growth” across multiple sectors. This sentiment was echoed throughout the highest echelons of Emirati leadership, creating a powerful narrative of collaborative nation-building.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai’s Crown Prince, offered a deeply personal tribute to his father, emphasizing the human dimension of this leadership journey. “Thank you, Mohammed bin Rashid. You will always be the father, the leader, and the source of inspiration we look up to,” he expressed, noting how his father’s belief in the UAE’s people transformed “human potential as the nation’s greatest wealth.”

The celebration extended to Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, who articulated the quantitative impact of these twenty years: “We celebrate twenty years of governance and wisdom… so that the economy doubled, the Emirates rose to the forefront of nations, and Dubai became a global center for trade and business.” His tribute highlighted the creation of “a new reality for Dubai, the Emirates, and the region” through visionary policies that “achieved the impossible.”

Completing this chorus of recognition, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan praised the establishment of “an advanced governmental system that preceded its time,” making the UAE “a success story to be emulated in governmental excellence.”

The tangible outcomes of this leadership era include Dubai’s iconic landmarks and initiatives: the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Metro, Expo 2020, the pioneering UAE Mars Mission, and the innovative Golden Visa program. These developments collectively represent Dubai’s metamorphosis into a global hub for commerce, innovation, and future-facing development under Sheikh Mohammed’s steadfast guidance.