Argentina’s right-wing President Javier Milei has broken from much of Latin America to celebrate the United States military operation in Venezuela, posting “Liberty advances! Long live Liberty!” in the early hours after the strikes. His response contrasts sharply with condemnations from most regional leaders following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro.
Milei’s support for the operation reflects his close alignment with President Trump and represents a significant ideological divide within South America. Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa also offered support, stating that “time was coming for all the narco-Chávista criminals,” focusing on the drug trafficking charges that will be brought against Maduro in New York.
The captured Venezuelan leader and his wife Cilia Flores are currently aboard a US ship being transported to face criminal prosecution, according to the Trump administration. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the legal proceedings, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated the charges would relate to narcotics operations.
Most of Latin America’s leaders, particularly those on the left, have condemned the operation as a violation of sovereignty and international law. Brazil’s Lula, Colombia’s Petro, Mexico’s Sheinbaum, and Chile’s Boric joined in criticizing the intervention, with Cuba’s president describing it as state terrorism.
The divided regional response highlights deep political fractures in South America, with right-wing governments viewing the operation as justified while leftist administrations see it as dangerous imperialism. The international community more broadly, including the UN, European Union, China, and Russia, has condemned the action as setting a dangerous precedent that undermines the foundations of international law and peaceful relations between nations.