Former National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP) president Clarita Carlos said the United States’ arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was illegal “from all perspectives” and constituted a clear violation of international law.
Speaking on DZRH News program Dos Por Dos on Monday morning, January 5, Carlos said the operation amounted to an unlawful intrusion into the sovereignty and territorial integrity of another state.
“Definitely illegal yung ginawa nila—pinasok nila ang isang bansa na may sovereignty at dinukot nila ang pinuno nito kasama ang kanyang asawa,” said Carlos, who previously served as the Philippines’ National Security Adviser.
Carlos stressed that no principle in international law allows one country to arrest a sitting head of state on foreign soil, regardless of the accusations raised against that leader.
Carlos warned that allowing such actions to stand would undermine the foundations of the international system.
“Kung ganito ang mangyayari, mawawalan ng saysay ang sovereignty at territoriality ng mga nation-state,” Carlos said. “Ito ay pwedeng maging precedent. Ibig sabihin ito ay magiging basehan ng action sa kinabukasan.”
The former NDCP president also rejected arguments that a US court order could justify the operation, saying American judicial authority applies only within US territory and cannot be enforced in another country.
“Paano mo mae-enforce ang utos ng husgado mo sa ibang teritoryo?” Carlos asked, adding that such reasoning has no basis in international law.
She added that regardless of political views on Maduro, the incident set a dangerous precedent: “Illegal ito kahit saan mo tingnan, at kapag pinalampas, puwedeng maulit sa ibang bansa.”
Carlos made the remarks after US forces carried out large-scale strikes in Venezuela early Saturday, January 3. Following the attacks, US President Donald Trump said that Maduro and his wife had been captured and flown to the US.
In response, Venezuelan officials said the government remained unified behind Maduro following his capture by US forces, rejecting Washington’s actions as a “kidnapping” and insisting he remains the country’s leader despite being held in New York.
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has taken on interim leadership with the backing of Venezuela’s top court, while the military was placed on heightened alert amid government claims that the US strikes killed soldiers, civilians, and members of Maduro’s security detail.
The United States has described the operation as a law-enforcement mission tied to long-standing drug charges against Maduro, a justification that has drawn international scrutiny as the UN Security Council prepares to meet to discuss the attack.
