The international community was rocked by stunning news on January 3, 2026: a military operation conducted by the United States has resulted in the seizure of Venezuela’s sitting President, Nicolás Maduro.
The immediate aftermath has been a firestorm of condemnation, led by a key regional bloc, The Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA), while the Venezuelan government projected defiance, with the Vice President declaring, “There is only one president here, and his name is Nicolás Maduro.”
In a uncompromising official statement, ALBA has framed the US action not as a political maneuver, but as an overt act of aggression that threatens regional and global stability.
ALBA’s response discards diplomatic ambiguity in favor of direct and severe language, explicitly labeling the incident an “armed aggression.” The alliance leaves no room for interpretation, viewing the seizure of President Maduro as a clear declaration of hostilities.
Their certainty is underscored in the opening of their official communiqué:
“The Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) absolutely, categorically and without nuance confirms the act of war perpetrated by the Government of the United States of America against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela…”
By further defining the operation as a “serious and deliberate violation of international law” and the “Charter of the United Nations,” ALBA elevates the incident beyond a bilateral dispute. This language is a strategic move designed to invoke the principles of collective security, particularly Chapter VII of the UN Charter. It lays the groundwork to bring the issue before the UN Security Council and frame the United States as an illegal aggressor state, launching a fundamental challenge to the post-WWII international order.
Beyond condemning the action itself, ALBA’s most urgent priority is the safety and status of President Maduro. The alliance’s first demands are not for negotiation but for immediate proof of the President’s well-being and his freedom.
The statement demands “a life faith of the Venezuelan Head of State,” a phrase understood to be an urgent demand for what is commonly known as “proof of life,” while also calling for his “immediate and unconditional release.” This primary focus on the leader’s life and liberty highlights the human element of the crisis and reflects the widespread shock and outrage within the region. This sentiment is mirrored on the ground, where, as one photo caption notes, “The Bolivarian people mobilize in the streets demanding justice and the return of their leaders.”
ALBA is not limiting its response to its member states. The organization has issued an “urgent appeal” to the entire international community, seeking to build a global coalition to oppose the US action.
The call is directed specifically to “governments, social movements, political forces and popular organizations of the world.”