Canada Divided on US Strike and Capture of Nicolas Maduro

USA (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Canadian political leaders offered sharply divided reactions after US strikes on Caracas and the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand claimed in a social media post that Canada has “refused to recognize any legitimacy of the Maduro regime and opposed its repression of the Venezuelan people, including the persecution of dissenters and particularly political leaders opposed to the regime.”

“In keeping with our long-standing commitment to upholding the rule of law and democracy, Canada calls on all parties to respect international law and we stand by the people of Venezuela and their desire to live in a peaceful and democratic society,”

Anand added.

The oil painting-rich nation’s capital, Caracas, saw multitudinous explosions during the night, and low- flying aeroplanes flew past it. Maduro’s government instantly indicted the US for striking service and mercenary targets. 

Shortly after 4:30 a.m. ET, U.S. President Donald Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social platform. He claimed that a “large-scale strike” against Venezuela was effectively carried out by the United States.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said on social media that Maduro and his spouse, Cilia Flores, have been charged in the Southern District of New York U.S. District Court.

At a press conference later on Saturday morning, Trump informed reporters that the US will “run” Venezuela “until such time that we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition.”

Since the invasion of Panama in 1989, this is Washington’s most direct intervention in Latin America.

“Congratulations to President Trump on successfully arresting narco-terrorist and socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro, who should live out his days in prison,”

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said in a social media post on Saturday morning.

“Down with socialism. Long live freedom,”

Poilievre added.

Don Davies, the interim leader of the NDP, stated on social media that the US “attack on Venezuela is neither an act of self-defense nor does it have UN Security Council authorization.” As a result, it is completely unlawful.

He added:

“The U.S. can have no credibility upholding international law and the rights of nations when it blatantly violates those principles itself.”

Earlier on Saturday, Davies said that

“Canada must strongly condemn it and call for the immediate cessation of aggression by the U.S. against the sovereign state of Venezuela.”

Yves- François Blanchet, the leader of the Bloc Québécois, stated on social media in French that his party is apprehensive that Maduro’s absolutism” defies abecedarian freedoms” and is indicted of medicine trafficking. 

“The Bloc Québécois invites the United States to respect the sovereignty of states and peoples and to resort to international and multilateral instruments, first and foremost the [United Nations], to address the threats posed by the Venezuelan regime,”