US allies, foes alarmed by capture of Venezuela's Maduro

The US military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Madruo on Saturday sparked alarm across the international community, with allies and foes of Washington and Caracas expressing disquiet.

US President Donald Trump said Nicolas Maduro and his wife would be taken to New York to face federal charges after military strikes and an operation which he described as looking like a "television show".

The Venezuelan government decried what it termed a "extremely serious military aggression" by Washington and declared a state of emergency.

Countries such as Russia and Iran, which had longstanding ties with Maduro's government, were quick to condemn the operation but their alarm was also shared by Washington's allies including France and the EU.

Here is a rundown of the main reaction.

Russia

Russia demanded the US leadership "reconsider its position and release the legally elected president of the sovereign country and his wife".

China

Beijing said "China is deeply shocked and strongly condemns the US's blatant use of force against a sovereign state and its action against its president".

Iran

Iran, which Trump bombed last year, said it "strongly condemns the US military attack on Venezuela and a flagrant violation of the country's national sovereignty and territorial integrity".

Mexico

Mexico, which Trump has also threatened with military force over drug trafficking, strongly condemned the US military action in Venezuela, saying it "seriously jeopardises regional stability."

Colombia

Colombian President Gustavo Petro - whose country neighbours Venezuela - called the US action an "assault on the sovereignty" of Latin America which would lead to a humanitarian crisis.

Brazil

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva slammed the US attacks as a "serious affront" to Venezuela's sovereignty.

Cuba

Cuba, a strong ally of Venezuela's, denounced "state terrorism against the brave Venezuelan people".

Spain

Spain offered to mediate in the crisis to find a way to a peaceful solution, while calling for "de-escalation and restraint".

France

France condemned the US operation, saying it undermined international law and no solution to Venezuela's crisis can be imposed from the outside.

EU

The EU more generally expressed concern at the developments and urged respect for international law, even as it noted that Maduro "lacks legitimacy".

UK 

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said all countries should "uphold international law" and added that "the UK was not involved in any way in this operation" as he urged patience in order to "establish the facts".

Italy

In a rare expression of support for the US operation by a major European country, far-right Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni - a Trump ally - argued the US military action in Venezuela was "legitimate" and "defensive".

UN

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was "deeply alarmed" by the US strikes, with his spokesman quoting him as saying it could "constitute a dangerous precedent".