Venezuela Denounces U.S. Military Action, Declares State of External Commotion

The Government of Venezuela has formally denounced what it described as an “extremely serious military aggression” by the United States, accusing Washington of carrying out attacks on civilian and military locations in Caracas and several surrounding states.

In a statement issued on January 3, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela said U.S. forces targeted areas in the capital as well as the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira. The government condemned the action before the international community, calling it a flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter and a threat to international peace and stability, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Venezuela accused the United States of seeking to seize the country’s strategic resources, including oil and minerals, and attempting to undermine its political independence through what it described as a forced “regime change.” The government insisted that such efforts would fail, citing the country’s history of resistance to foreign intervention.

The statement said President Nicolás Maduro has ordered the activation of national defense plans and signed a decree declaring a State of External Commotion across the entire national territory. According to the government, the measure is intended to protect the population, ensure the functioning of state institutions, and respond to what it called external aggression.

The statement makes no mention of the whereabouts or capture of President Maduro. This contrasts with claims by the United States, which has said Maduro was captured during an overnight operation and removed from the country, an assertion not acknowledged in the Venezuelan government’s release.