Friday World January 6, 2026
In the wake of the United States' dramatic military operation on January 3, 2026, which resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President **Nicolás Maduro** and his wife Cilia Flores, international reactions have been sharply divided. The audacious raid, codenamed Operation Absolute Resolve, involved airstrikes on infrastructure in northern Venezuela and a special forces assault on Maduro's residence in Caracas. President **Donald Trump** hailed it as a "stunning display of American military might," justifying the action as a law-enforcement effort to bring Maduro to justice on charges of narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and related crimes. Trump further declared that the United States would "run" Venezuela temporarily to ensure a stable transition and reclaim American oil interests.
The operation has been widely condemned as a blatant violation of international law, including the UN Charter's prohibition on the use of force against sovereign states. Maduro was flown to New York, where he and Flores pleaded not guilty in a Manhattan federal court on January 5. Venezuela's interim leader, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, was sworn in by the Supreme Tribunal of Justice, denouncing the capture as an "illegal kidnapping" and calling for national unity against what she termed "imperial aggression."
While many global powers, including Russia, China, Brazil, and Iran, swiftly criticized the US action, the response from France has ignited intense domestic controversy. President Emmanuel Macron initially posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the Venezuelan people could "only rejoice" at being rid of the "Maduro dictatorship," urging a peaceful, democratic transition led by opposition figures like Edmundo González Urrutia, whom France has long recognized as the legitimate winner of the disputed 2024 election.
Macron's statement notably omitted any condemnation of the military method employed—bombardments, sovereignty violation, and the abduction of a sitting head of state. This selective silence drew immediate fire from France's left-wing, environmentalist, and communist factions, who accused the president of embodying "double standards" and aligning too closely with Washington.
Prominent voices on the French left have been vocal in their outrage. Communist Party leader Fabien Roussel described Macron's position as an "ultimate disgrace," claiming France had been "downgraded to the rank of the USA’s 51st state." Other critics, including figures from La France Insoumise, highlighted the hypocrisy: while France champions international law and multilateralism elsewhere, it appears to excuse violations when committed by allies.
Reports from French media outlets like RFI, Le Figaro, and Mediapart noted that Macron later clarified in a Council of Ministers meeting on January 5 that the "method used" by the US was "neither supported nor approved" by France, emphasizing defense of international law and peoples' freedom. This adjustment came amid mounting protests and criticism that his initial reaction broke with France's traditional diplomatic stance against unilateral interventions, as exemplified by opposition to the 2003 Iraq invasion.
The domestic backlash underscores broader concerns in Paris: the US raid revives fears of "might makes right" in global affairs, potentially setting dangerous precedents for sovereignty violations. Critics argue that justifying regime change through force—regardless of Maduro's authoritarian record—echoes failed experiments in Iraq and Libya, which bred instability rather than democracy.
Many in France view the operation as less about human rights or anti-drug efforts and more about securing Venezuela's vast oil reserves for American companies. Trump's explicit mentions of reopening Venezuela to US investment and controlling its energy sector fuel accusations of neo-imperialism. French analysts warn that Europe's muted or complicit response risks positioning the continent as a passive player in an era of resurgent unilateralism.
This episode highlights the tension between ideological opposition to Maduro's regime—which much of the West, including France, has rejected since the contested 2024 elections—and adherence to foundational principles of non-intervention. Macron's evolving position reflects an attempt to balance transatlantic ties with domestic demands for principled foreign policy.
→ As protests in France and international debates at the UN Security Council continue, the Venezuela crisis serves as a stark reminder: selective application of international law erodes its credibility. For Paris, the question remains whether silence or belated criticism adequately defends the rules-based order France claims to uphold.
The world watches as Venezuela navigates its uncertain future under interim leadership, while in France, the debate over Macron's response reveals deepening divisions on how Europe should confront American power in a multipolar world.
Sajjadali Nayani ✍
Friday World January 6, 2026
