The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has spoken out on the dramatic geopolitical developments unfolding in South America, cautioning the international community about safeguarding Venezuela’s “sovereignty and territorial integrity.” The statement, issued Sunday from the bloc’s headquarters in Abuja, followed less than 24 hours after a bold U.S. military operation in Caracas that led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
Although ECOWAS typically concentrates on regional security matters, the bloc voiced deep “concern” over the precedent set by the American action. In its remarks, ECOWAS leaders acknowledged the global struggle against organised crime but firmly rejected unilateral military intervention as a legitimate approach.
“ECOWAS wishes to remind the international community about their obligation to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each other as enshrined in international law, especially article 2 (4) of the United Nations Charter,” the statement said.
The bloc further emphasised its solidarity with the Venezuelan people, supporting their right to “shape the future of their country through an inclusive process” rather than one dictated by foreign military force.
As details of the Saturday raid emerge, the human cost is proving to be catastrophic.
The New York Times, quoting senior Venezuelan officials, reported that the death toll has risen to 80 individuals. This number is expected to climb as search teams navigate the wreckage of the presidential palace and security compounds.
Venezuelan Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino confirmed the devastation, noting that a “large part” of the President’s elite security detail was neutralised during the incursion.
The operation was described as swift and overwhelming, utilising advanced aerial assets to suppress local defences.
In Washington, President Donald Trump confirmed the success of the mission, announcing that both Maduro and Flores had been extracted from Venezuelan soil. The President took a hardline stance on the aftermath, pledging to “assert American control over the country for the time being, with US troops if necessary.”
The couple landed in New York late Saturday night under heavy guard. They are currently being processed at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, a high-security facility. The legal battle ahead is expected to be historic, with the U.S. Department of Justice levying charges of:
- International Drug Trafficking: Alleging the use of state resources to move cocaine.
- Terrorism Cooperation: Alleged ties to designated global gang networks.
In Caracas, officials have remained defiant, calling the capture a “kidnapping” and demanding the immediate release of the couple.
Maduro has consistently denied all American allegations, framing them as a pretext for “imperialist regime change.”
The move by ECOWAS to weigh in on a South American crisis highlights a growing anxiety among middle-power blocs that the “rules-based order” is being replaced by “might-is-right” diplomacy.
