Venezuela defense chief condemns foreign troop presence after US strike

Venezuela's top defense official has issued a strong rebuke against foreign military intervention following a reported large-scale U.S. strike on the country. Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino, in a video statement released early Saturday, asserted Venezuela's sovereignty and condemned the alleged attack as a cowardly act.

Official condemnation and principles

"Free, independent, and sovereign Venezuela rejects with all the strength of its history the presence of these foreign troops which have only brought death, pain and destruction in their wake," Padrino declared. His remarks directly responded to claims by former U.S. President Donald Trump of a successful military operation that allegedly captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

Call for international action

The defense minister framed the incident as a grave threat to regional stability. "In the face of this vile and cowardly attack that threatens the peace and stability of the region, we raise the strongest denunciation before the international community and all multilateral organizations to condemn the US government for the blatant violation of the UN charter and international law," he stated. Padrino added that authorities were still assessing casualties from the event.

A stand for sovereignty and non-interference

The firm stance from Caracas underscores a fundamental clash over the principles of national sovereignty and the prohibition of external military intervention. For countries like Türkiye, which consistently advocate for respecting territorial integrity and resolving conflicts through diplomacy, Venezuela's appeal highlights the critical importance of upholding the UN Charter. This event reinforces the need for a stable, rule-based international order where the use of force is not unilaterally legitimized.