UI Law Expert Says US Arrest of Maduro Violates International Law

January 6, 2026 | 09:32 am

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The attack by the United States (US) on Venezuela resulting in the arrest of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, is considered a violation of international law by Hikmahanto Juwana, a professor of international law at the University of Indonesia.

Moreover, Hikmahanto stated that Nicolas Maduro and his wife were then taken by the personnel who arrested them to be tried in the United States. The couple faces US federal charges related to drug trafficking and cooperation with terrorist organizations.

"A country that launches an attack on another country, and even takes the head of the government of that country to be tried in the attacking country's court, is prohibited under the customary international law," said Hikmahanto when contacted in Jakarta, as quoted by ANTARA.

He stated that according to Article 2, Paragraph 4 of the Charter of the United Nations (UN), every member state must refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any country.

However, the UI academician did not rule out the possibility that the US would use Article 51 of the UN Charter, which regulates the right of self-defense for member states, to justify its attack on Venezuela before the UN.

The pretext of self-defense as stipulated in Article 51 of the UN Charter was also raised by Russia when they launched an attack on Ukraine, he said.

According to Hikmahanto, the US regards the war on drugs as essential to safeguard its national interests. However, President Maduro is seen as uncooperative in the US' efforts against drug lords, and is even accused of allowing his country to be used as a location to send drugs to the US.

He also highlighted a similar intervention taken by the US in 1990, when President George H. W. Bush approved the invasion of Panama and the capture of the country's leader, Manuel Noriega.

Similar to Maduro, after being captured by US personnel, Noriega was then brought before a US court and charged with drug trafficking and money laundering.

The people of Venezuela were shocked early Saturday with the US military attack on civilian and military installations in several states, amidst increasing tensions with the US.

The Latin American country subsequently declared a national state of emergency.

US President Donald Trump then confirmed that his administration launched an attack on Venezuela and successfully abducted President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, who were immediately taken to the US.

Following Maduro's abduction by the US, the Venezuelan Supreme Court ordered Vice President Delcy Rodriguez to serve as the interim president.

Read: Nicolas Maduro Trial: 'I'm a Prisoner of War'

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