Canadian political leaders celebrate, condemn U.S. strikes on Venezuela and Maduro capture

Canadian political leaders are celebrating and condemning the United States over its nighttime strikes on the capital city of Venezuela and the subsequent capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

In a statement posted to social media, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said Canada has "refused to recognize any legitimacy of the Maduro regime and opposed its repression of the Venezuelan people, including the persecution of dissenters and particularly political leaders opposed to the regime."

"In keeping with our long-standing commiment to upholding the rule of law and democracy, Canada calls on all parties to respect international law and we stand by the people of Venezuela and their desire to live in a peaceful and democratic society," Anand added.

Multiple explosions rang out overnight and low-flying aircraft swept through Caracas, the capital of the oil-rich nation, as Maduro's government immediately accused the United States of attacking civilian and military installations.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced the developments on his Truth Social platform shortly after 4:30 a.m. ET. He said the U.S. successfully carried out a "large-scale strike" against Venezuela.

In a social media post, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted in the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of New York.

"They will soon face the wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts," Bondi said.

The situation marks Washington's most direct intervention in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama.

"Congratulations to President Trump on successfully arresting narco-terrorist and socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro, who should live out his days in prison," Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said in a social media post on Saturday morning.

"Down with socialism. Long live freedom," Poilievre added.

Before Trump officially announced the operation, interim NDP Leader Don Davies reacted to a video of U.S. aircraft striking Caracas and said on social media that "if true, this is a flagrant breach of international law and the rules-based system the U.S. claims to support."

"Canada must strongly condemn it and call for the immediate cessation of aggression by the U.S. against the sovereign state of Venezuela," Davies said.