The Venezuelan government has officially rejected and condemned what it described as a “military aggression” carried out by the United States, targeting the territory and residents of Venezuela. The statement noted that the attack affected both civilian and military sites in the capital, Caracas, as well as in the states of Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira.
According to the statement issued by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the authorities consider the incident a “flagrant violation” of national sovereignty and the provisions of the United Nations Charter, particularly the articles concerning respect for state sovereignty and the prohibition of the use of force. They believe that this development poses a threat to security and stability in Latin America and the Caribbean region.
The statement also indicated that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro signed a decree declaring a “state of external disturbance” across the national territory to protect the population and ensure the continued functioning of state institutions, as stipulated by Venezuelan laws governing states of exception.
The government clarified that this decision falls within a series of defensive measures, including activating national security plans and deploying comprehensive defense command structures across various states and municipalities, in addition to mobilizing the armed forces and security agencies.
In this context, the Venezuelan authorities plan to file official complaints with several international bodies, including the United Nations Security Council and the Secretary-General of the organization, as well as regional organizations, to demand condemnation of what they consider an assault on their territory.
Concluding its statement, the government affirmed Venezuela’s right to self-defense, citing Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, and called on neighboring countries and the international community to monitor developments and express their positions regarding the unprecedented escalation in the country.
This response comes shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump announced, in statements shared on his platform Truth Social, that the United States had executed a “large-scale strike” against Venezuela, mentioning the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, who were reportedly airlifted out of the country. Trump indicated that the operation was conducted in coordination with U.S. law enforcement agencies, promising further details in an upcoming press conference.
