DIRCO Condemns US Military Operation In Venezuela As Breach Of International Law

South Africa has issued a sharp rebuke of the United States following a military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the arrest of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, describing the move as a violation of international law.

Maduro was flown to the United States and appeared in a New York court on Monday, where he pleaded not guilty to several charges, including drug trafficking. During the hearing, he told the court, “I am still president.”

The Venezuelan leader and his wife were reportedly taken from their residence in Caracas over the weekend, triggering international criticism and renewed debate over state sovereignty and foreign intervention.

DIRCO warns of threat to sovereignty and UN Charter

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has aligned itself with critics of the operation, including US Senator Bernie Sanders, who labelled the action a “brazen violation of international law.”

DIRCO spokesperson Chrispin Phiri said Pretoria views the events in Venezuela as fundamentally undermining established international norms.

“What we have seen happening in Venezuela is a manifest violation of the UN Charter, which speaks to how we should respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a state,” Phiri said.

He added that South Africa believes the operation sets a dangerous example for the global rules-based order. “It also puts multilateralism in a very, very precarious situation.”

Strained US–South Africa relations under further pressure

The condemnation comes at a time when diplomatic relations between Pretoria and Washington are already tense, raising questions about how the latest developments could affect bilateral engagement.

Despite the strain, DIRCO stressed the importance of continued communication. “We would hope that we continue to have a dialogue because that is what we believe in any situation, de-escalates conflict, but also brings a tangible solution,” Phiri said.

Meanwhile, Maduro ally Delcy Rodríguez has been sworn in as Venezuela’s acting president. She has publicly appealed for peace and dialogue amid growing uncertainty in the country.

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On Monday, US President Donald Trump repeated his assertion to journalists aboard Air Force One that the United States is “in charge” of Venezuela.

Trump also escalated his rhetoric over the weekend, suggesting that Colombia could be the next country to face US pressure following Washington’s actions against Venezuela, according to a report by SurgeZirc SA’s sister publication, SurgeZirc.

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