By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider

The world has been taken by storm since the United States President Donald Trump and his administration captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro along with his wife Cilia Flores due the Venezuelan President allegedly being affiliated with the criminal underworld of Venezuela. Maduro is expected to appear in court in New York today as countries such as China and South Africa have called for Maduro’s release.

China has come forward to call for the United States to release Maduro as he is set to appear in court. Trump has expressed that his next intended “target” is Colombia as he has criticised their President and going as far as calling him a “sick man” and that he will not be in power for very long.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei has expressed that the relations shared between Venezuela and Iran is a relationship based on mutual respect as well as shared interests, Baghaei has expressed that this will guide the Iranian capital’s foreign policy. Baghaei has also highlighted that the actions taken by the United States to handle the affairs of Venezuela reveal its true intentions.

 “In the past decades, interventions were justified under slogans such as democracy and human rights. Today, they openly say the issue is Venezuela’s oil” said Baghaei.

“Claims that another country can run Venezuela are unacceptable to any nation, including the Venezuelan people, and reflect a return to colonial-era thinking.” Baghaei added. China on Sunday has urged the United States to stop dismantling the government of Venezuela as they have called the attack a breach of International Law.

China is paying close attention to the political landscape of the Latin American region as China is also Venezuela’s largest buyer of oil, and if the United States continues to impose these attacks and directives upon Venezuela.

 It will cause further tensions between them and China. South Korea has also condemned America’s actions in Venezuela; “ Our government urges all involved parties to make utmost efforts towards easing regional tensions. We hope for a quick stabilisation of the situation via dialogue, ensuring democracy is restored, and the will of the Venezuelan people is honoured.” said the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has also called for a de-escalation of tensions in Venezuela and has called for a peaceful transition of power in the country and has asked for international law to be upheld.

The Colombian President, Gustavo Petro, has called the attack on his neighbour country, an “assault on the sovereignty of Latin America” which could cause a severe humanitarian crisis.

French President Emmanuel Macron has also expressed that regardless of  any problems that Venezuela has, the solutions cannot be imposed by external forces and has condemned the actions the United States has taken highlighting that this breaches international law.

 Israel however has praised the actions taken by the United States stating that America acted as “the leader of the free world”.