Belgian foreign minister Maxime Prévot has called for Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro to be held accountable, while warning that any action must

comply with international law. His remarks followed a US military operation in Venezuela, after which Maduro and his wife were reportedly taken into US custody and transported to New York.

According to reports, the United States launched overnight strikes on the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, before detaining Maduro. He and his wife are said to be en route to New York aboard a US warship, where they are expected to face charges of narco-terrorism.

“The Venezuelan people deserve a democratic and legitimate regime. Maduro must be held accountable for his actions, but international law must be respected,” Prévot wrote in a response on X. He added that Belgium has consistently underlined the importance of respecting international law “in all circumstances”.

“We all have an interest in a respected rules-based order,” the minister said. “We hope for a swift de-escalation and for a peaceful transition. The civilian population must be spared.” Prévot also stressed that he is closely monitoring developments and that “the safety of our citizens remains our top priority”.

Meanwhile, US president Donald Trump signalled that Washington intends to play a significant role in Venezuela’s future, particularly in the oil sector. Speaking to Fox News, Trump said the United States would be “very involved” in the Venezuelan oil industry following the military operation.

Trump also suggested that the US would seek to influence the country’s political transition. He said he did not want a successor who would continue Maduro’s policies and, when asked whether he would support opposition leader María Corina Machado—currently in Norway—he replied: “We have to look at that now.” Photo by Gov.pl, Wikimedia commons.