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Turkish experts speaking to state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) on Saturday said that the U.S. operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro aims at regime change and re-establishing American dominance in South America, as international reactions poured in condemning or supporting the strikes.
"These attacks clearly target regime change. Official authorities are already openly stating this. The U.S. first wants regime change, then to reinforce its influence in all of South America, including Venezuela," said Professor Dr. Mehmet Ozkan of the National Defense University.
Assoc. Professor Dr. Murat Aslan of Hasan Kalyoncu University and SETA said, "The attack launched this morning will result in President Maduro being removed from the country through a special forces operation and most likely being sent to America to stand trial on drug trafficking charges."
Ozkan claimed that the U.S. is trying to clearly define its sphere in global politics, saying, "As stated in the most recently published U.S. national security strategy, the Monroe Doctrine is being reinterpreted under Trump's influence, and the main policy is to prevent South America from trying to be effective in global politics separately from the U.S. and to reduce the influence of external actors in South America."
He noted that the U.S. intervention in Venezuela, which has been discussed for months, is "not a surprise" and is a direct result of this policy.
Aslan commented to AA that Venezuela "will likely have to carry out the political transformation demanded by the U.S. because it is inadequate in conventional terms." He warned that socialists could begin an irregular warfare reminiscent of the Ernesto Che Guevara era.
"If you add drug cartels to this equation, a new formation similar to FARC could emerge. Therefore, it is not possible to assess what direction this process will take. The dynamics are uncertain and complex," Aslan said.
He added that the country is already politically divided between socialists and the opposition currently demanding power, and "if appropriate conditions arise, there could be some tensions."
Senator Mike Lee said Saturday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed him that Maduro has been arrested by U.S. personnel to stand trial on criminal charges.
"He informed me that Nicolas Maduro has been arrested by U.S. personnel to stand trial on criminal charges in the United States and that the kinetic action we saw tonight was deployed to protect and defend those executing the arrest warrant," Lee said on X.
Rubio "anticipates no further action in Venezuela now that Maduro is in U.S. custody," Lee added.
Maduro was captured by the U.S. Army's Delta Force, officials told CBS News.
U.S. President Trump told the New York Times, "It was a brilliant operation, actually. A lot of good planning and a lot of great, great troops and great people."
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called for restraint after speaking with Secretary Rubio.
"Under all circumstances, the principles of international law and the UN Charter must be respected," Kallas said.
"The EU has repeatedly stated that (Mr.) Maduro lacks legitimacy and has defended a peaceful transition," she added.
Several British lawmakers called on the U.K. government to condemn the strikes.
"This is naked U.S. imperialism: an illegal assault on Caracas aimed at overthrowing a sovereign government and plundering its resources," said Your Party lawmaker Zarah Sultana. "Starmer's Labour government must condemn this unequivocally."
Independent lawmaker Jeremy Corbyn called it an "unprovoked and illegal attack" and "a brazen attempt" to secure control over Venezuelan natural resources. "It is an act of war that puts the lives of millions of people at risk."
Labour lawmaker John McDonnell said, "With no legal sanction, with no UN decision, what difference in international law is there between Trump's attack on Venezuela & Putin's invasion of Ukraine?"
Labor lawmaker Richard Burgeon said he "totally" condemns the "illegal attack on a sovereign nation," adding, "As with the war on Iraq, Trump's regime change is about control of Venezuela's oil—the largest reserves in the world."
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