Global Condemnation Mounts as Russia, Cuba and Iran Denounce US Military Strike on Venezuela

Moscow, Jan 2026 : Strong international criticism erupted on Saturday after the United States carried out a large-scale military strike on Venezuela, with several countries, including Russia, Cuba and Iran, condemning the action as a grave violation of Venezuelan sovereignty and international law. The sharp reactions underscore growing global unease over the escalation and its potential impact on regional and global stability.

Russia led the chorus of criticism, describing the US military action as “deeply concerning” and unjustifiable. In a strongly worded statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said the pretexts cited by Washington to justify the strike were untenable and reflected ideological hostility rather than pragmatic diplomacy.

“The pretexts used to justify such actions are untenable. Ideological hostility has triumphed over businesslike pragmatism and a willingness to build relationships of trust and predictability,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said, condemning what it described as a reckless use of force.

Moscow stressed that disputes between nations must be addressed through dialogue and diplomatic engagement, not military escalation. It warned that the US action risked destabilising an already fragile region and undermining international norms.

“Latin America must remain the zone of peace it declared itself to be in 2014. Venezuela must be guaranteed the right to determine its own destiny without any destructive, let alone military, outside intervention,” the statement said. Russia reaffirmed its solidarity with the Venezuelan people and voiced support for the country’s Bolivarian leadership, which it said was committed to defending national sovereignty and independence.

Russia also endorsed calls from Venezuela and several Latin American governments for the urgent convening of a United Nations Security Council meeting to address the crisis. Moscow said the matter warranted immediate international scrutiny given its serious implications for global peace and security.

Cuba joined Russia in condemning the US strike, with President Miguel Díaz-Canel describing it as a “criminal attack” and an act of state terrorism. In a social media post, Díaz-Canel said Latin America was once again under assault and accused Washington of targeting the Venezuelan people without justification.

“What is happening is state terrorism against the brave people of Venezuela and against Our America,” the Cuban President said, urging the international community to respond decisively to what he called blatant aggression.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez also denounced the US military action, describing the bombings and strikes on Caracas and other locations as cowardly acts against a nation that had not attacked the United States or any other country. He said the assault violated international law and set a dangerous precedent.

Iran also issued a strong condemnation, calling the US strike a “flagrant violation” of Venezuela’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. In an official statement, Iran’s Foreign Ministry described the action as an act of aggression and a clear breach of the United Nations Charter, which prohibits the use of force against sovereign states.

Tehran reaffirmed Venezuela’s right to defend its sovereignty, territorial integrity and right to self-determination. It urged the international community to fulfil what it described as its legal and moral responsibility by immediately halting what Iran termed a US “invasion” of Venezuela.

The global reactions followed dramatic developments earlier on Saturday, when US President Donald Trump claimed that American forces had carried out a large-scale strike on Venezuela and that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife had been “captured and flown out of the country.” Trump made the assertion in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, though details of the operation remained unclear.

Reports of loud explosions in Caracas in the early hours of Saturday heightened tensions and fuelled uncertainty, with Venezuelan authorities accusing Washington of launching a serious military aggression aimed at undermining the country’s political independence and seizing its strategic resources.

The condemnation from Iran comes amid already strained relations between Tehran and Washington. Tensions have risen further after Trump recently warned that the United States would take action if Iran “kills peaceful protesters.” Iran, in response, said it would “forcefully reject” any interference in its internal affairs.

Protests have been ongoing in several Iranian cities since Sunday, driven by public anger over the sharp depreciation of the national currency, the rial, and worsening economic conditions. Iranian officials have accused external forces of exploiting the unrest to destabilise the country.

As international reactions continue to pour in, diplomatic pressure is mounting for restraint and dialogue. With calls growing for urgent UN intervention, the Venezuela crisis risks becoming another major flashpoint in an already volatile global geopolitical landscape.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)