Venezuela on Monday issued a stark warning to the international community after US forces captured President Nicolas Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores in a dramatic overnight operation, calling the move a “serious threat to the global order” and an act of “imperialist aggression”.

Venezuelan Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said the US action against Maduro could set a dangerous precedent for sovereign nations across the world. “If today it was against Venezuela, tomorrow it could be against any state or any country,” he said in a televised address, urging citizens to remain calm and not fall prey to fear or psychological warfare.

Padrino Lopez called for the immediate release of Maduro and Flores and insisted that Venezuela’s military leadership remains united. He said the armed forces would continue to guarantee stability, order, and national sovereignty despite what he described as foreign intervention aimed at regime change.

Rodriguez Seeks ‘Balanced’ Ties With US

Interim President Delcy Rodriguez, who assumed leadership following Maduro’s capture, struck a more measured tone. In a statement posted on Telegram, Rodriguez said Venezuela was open to improving ties with Washington based on mutual respect and cooperation. “We consider it a priority to move toward a balanced and respectful relationship between the United States and Venezuela,” she said, adding that Caracas was willing to work on a shared development agenda even amid heightened tensions.

Rodriguez, who previously served as Maduro’s vice president and oversaw key sectors including the oil-dependent economy, also reiterated Venezuela’s right to defend its natural resources and national interests.

Trump Hints At Further Action

US President Donald Trump, however, issued a sharp warning to Rodriguez, saying she could face consequences “bigger than Maduro” if she failed to cooperate with Washington. Speaking in an interview with The Atlantic, Trump said a second strike on Venezuela was not off the table. “If she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price,” Trump said, while stressing that the US needed “full access” to Venezuela’s oil and other strategic resources.

Trump defended the decision to capture Maduro by force, arguing that regime change was necessary and claiming conditions in Venezuela could not worsen. He also hinted at broader US interventionism, warning that other countries could face similar actions.

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Global Concerns Over US Action

The capture of Maduro has sparked international concern, with legal experts questioning the lawfulness of the operation, which was reportedly conducted without congressional approval. Analysts say the move represents the most aggressive US intervention aimed at regime change since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Maduro and his wife were flown to the United States late Saturday and landed at a small airport near New York City. The couple faces US charges linked to an alleged narco-terrorism conspiracy, accusations that Venezuela has repeatedly rejected.

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As Caracas seeks emergency discussions at international forums, Venezuela’s warning that “any country” could be next has added to fears of widening geopolitical instability amid already strained global relations.