RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (January 3, 2026) — In a swift and unified response to the early morning U.S. airstrikes and capture of President Nicolás Maduro, the BRICS Plus bloc has issued a stern joint statement condemning the operation as a "gross violation of international law" and an "act of state-sponsored kidnapping."
The statement, coordinated by current bloc leadership and supported by founding members Russia, China, and Brazil, characterizes the U.S. military action as a direct assault on the principles of a multipolar world order.
Key Points of the BRICS Plus Declaration:
Sovereignty Under Attack: The bloc denounced the U.S. use of force as a "flagrant breach" of Article 2 of the UN Charter, which protects the territorial integrity and political independence of member states.
1 Demand for Immediate Release: BRICS nations have demanded the "immediate and unconditional release" of President Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores, warning that their "abduction" sets a dangerous precedent for the safety of all global leaders.
Rejection of "Narco-Terrorism" Pretext: China’s Foreign Ministry, echoing the bloc's sentiment, stated that "unilateral law enforcement" cannot be used as a cloak for military regime change.
Emergency Economic Response: Brazil’s President Lula da Silva hinted at a potential emergency meeting of the New Development Bank (NDB) to discuss economic support for Venezuela to ensure "civilian stability and the continuity of public services" amid the blackouts.
A Divided Hemisphere
The BRICS response highlights a widening gap between the U.S.-led Western order and the Global South. While Washington frames the raid as a "surgical strike" against a criminal enterprise, BRICS members emphasize the humanitarian and legal fallout.
"The era of unilateral 'police actions' in the sovereign territory of other nations must end," said the Russian representative to the bloc. "What happened in Caracas today is not justice; it is the weaponization of military power to secure geopolitical and resource control."
The "Zone of Peace" Violated
The joint statement reminded the international community that in 2014, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) declared the region a "Zone of Peace." BRICS leadership argues that by launching ground and air strikes on Caracas, the United States has unilaterally dismantled this regional security framework.
As the UN Security Council prepares for an emergency session tonight, BRICS nations are expected to introduce a resolution calling for an independent investigation into the civilian casualties reported in the states of Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira.
