World leaders have responded with a mixture of condemnation and caution after US President Donald Trump captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and wife Cilia Flores, and declared the US would seize control of the South American nation.

Trump posted an image of a handcuffed and blindfolded Maduro on board a flight bound for the US on Truth Social before claiming his administration would "run the country" until a judicious transition.

Vice President JD Vance and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio both supported the large-scale strike on Venezuela, while Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the captured pair have been indicted on narco-terrorism and cocaine importation conspiracy charges

READ MORE: Trump attacked Venezuela and arrested its president. Is that legal?

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The response from many foreign governments around the world – including Australia – has been measured.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Australian government urges "all parties to support dialogue and diplomacy in order to secure regional stability and prevent escalation", but stopped short of criticising the operation itself.

"Australia has long held concerns about the situation in Venezuela, including the need to respect democratic principles, human rights and fundamental freedoms," the PM said.

"We continue to support international law and a peaceful, democratic transition in Venezuela that reflects the will of the Venezuelan people."

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said she welcomed the news and that Maduro was now facing justice after serving as an "illegitimate president".

"Under his rule, Venezuela has endured years of repression, systemic human rights abuses, corruption, and the crushing of basic democratic freedoms," Ley said in a joint statement alongside Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Michaelia Cash.

"The Venezuelan people deserve the chance to restore their sovereignty through a peaceful return to democracy.

"We should live in a world where dictators and despots face justice for their crimes."

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer initially said he was working to "establish the facts".

In a second update posted to X, Starmer said the UK supported a transition of power in Venezuela.

"We regarded Maduro as an illegitimate President and we shed no tears about the end of his regime," Starmer said.

https://x.com/Keir_Starmer/status/2007540837224255602

French President Emmanuel Macron reacted with a similarly tempered response.

"The transition to come must be peaceful, democratic, and respectful of the will of the Venezuelan people. We hope that President Edmundo González Urrutia, elected in 2024, will be able to ensure this transition as quickly as possible," Macron wrote on X.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said his government would "take our time" to evaluate the developments in Venezuela.

Merz added that "a transition to a government legitimised by elections must be ensured" and said "political instability must not arise in Venezuela".

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Trump in a post on X.

"Congratulations, President @realDonaldTrump for your bold and historic leadership on behalf of freedom and justice," Netanyahu wrote.

"I salute your decisive resolve and the brilliant action of your brave soldiers."

Other foreign governments swiftly responded with strong criticism of the US' military action.

The Mexican Ministry for Foreign Affairs said it "strongly condemns and rejects the military actions carried out unilaterally in recent hours by the armed forces of the United States of America against targets in the territory of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in clear violation of Article 2 of the Charter of the United Nations".

READ MORE: Operation Absolute Resolve: The US mission to capture Maduro

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said that while Spain did not recognise Maduro's regime, his government also does not recognise an intervention that is a violation of international law and of which "pushes the region toward a horizon of uncertainty and belligerence".

"We call on all actors to think of the civilian population, to respect the United Nations Charter, and to articulate a fair and dialogued transition," Sanchez said.

Russia's foreign ministry condemned the action as an "act of armed aggression".

"The pretexts used to justify such actions are unfounded. Ideological animosity has prevailed over business pragmatism and the willingness to build relationships based on trust and predictability," the ministry said in a statement.

"In the current situation, it is important, first and foremost, to prevent further escalation and to focus on finding a way out of the situation through dialogue."

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China's foreign ministry said in a statement that it was "deeply shocked".

"China is deeply shocked and strongly condemns the use of force by the US against a sovereign country and the use of force against the president of a country," a ministry statement said.

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The US military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and flew him out of the country on Saturday also disrupted Caribbean travel at a busy travel time for the region.

No airline flights were crossing over Venezuela that day, according to FlightRadar24.com.

And major airlines cancelled hundreds of flights across the eastern Caribbean region and warned passengers that disruptions could continue for days after the Federal Aviation Administration imposed restrictions.

READ MORE: World leaders react with condemnation and caution after US attack on Venezuela

Flights were cancelled to and from Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Aruba and more than a dozen other destinations in the Lesser Antilles island group north of Venezuela. Airlines waived change fees for passengers who had to reschedule flights.

But US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Saturday night that the restrictions would end at midnight EST and airlines would be able to resume normal operations on Sunday.

At the Queen Beatrix airport in Aruba, a popular holiday destination for US vacationers just 124 kilometers off Venezuela’s coast, officials said they expected a return to normal on Sunday after a day of cancelled flights that stranded travelers or blocked them from flying to the island.

In Barbados, Prime Minister Mia Mottley said at a news conference that “the consequences of the conflict have been exceedingly disruptive to both of our ports of entry,” an airport as well as a seaport from which cruise ships sail.

READ MORE: Why is the US attacking Venezuela?

In Puerto Rico, Lou Levine, his wife and their three children were due to return to the Washington, DC area on Saturday morning, but he woke up to his wife saying their flight was cancelled. He found out why when he checked his phone.

They first tried calling JetBlue to reschedule.

The airline called back about two hours later, but the agent was not able to help them. Levine and his wife saw others messaging JetBlue on social media and did the same.

The airline responded and booked them on a flight on Saturday, turning their weeklong New Year’s holiday into a two-week sojourn.

READ MORE: Australia issues South American travel warnings after USA strikes Venezuela

Levine, a manager at a software company, said he is fortunate to have a flexible and understanding employer. But his daughter will be missing a week of high school. And then there are the unexpected expenses.

“I love it here. But we have dog-sitting and cat-sitting and car rental. It’s fine. It’s just really painful on the wallet,” Levine said.

The Levines hoped to book an earlier trip back if possible.

READ MORE: Trump declares US will take control of Venezuela's massive oil reserves

This weekend was already past the peak 13-day holiday period when AAA projected that 122.4 million Americans would travel at least 80 kilometers from home, but there were plenty of travelers still trying to squeeze in some more time on tropical beaches before heading back to colder temperatures.

“The Caribbean is a top destination this time of the year,” AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz said. “We do have a lot of people who are trying to get back home this weekend ahead of work and school on Monday.”

Diaz said “it’s understandable we want to unplug,” but travellers should keep track of what's going on and allow airlines to send them phone alerts.

READ MORE: Trump attacked Venezuela and arrested its president. Is that legal?

An announcement by Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, that was posted on the social platform X said restrictions were put in place because of the “security situation related to military activity” in Venezuela.

As a result most commercial flights to and from the airport that are operated by US airlines were suspended or canceled.

Foreign airlines and military aircraft were not included in that restriction, the statement said.

Air Canada said its flights to the Caribbean were operating normally, though it gave travellers an option to rebook. Another Canadian airline, WestJet, said it canceled Aruba flights “out of an abundance of caution.”

READ MORE: Trump says US 'is going to run' Venezuela after capture of Maduro

All major US airlines cancelled flights across the Eastern Caribbean because of the restrictions and adjusted their schedules.

Nearly two dozen island destinations were affected by the cancellations, including Anguilla, Antigua, Curacao, St. Lucia and the US and British Virgin Islands.

But destinations farther to the west like the Dominican Republic and Jamaica were generally not affected.

New York-based JetBlue said it canceled about 215 flights “due to airspace closures across the Caribbean related to military activity.”

READ MORE: Venezuela's VP condemns 'kidnapping' and says country will never be a US colony

Dutch airline KLM said it too cancelled flights affecting thousands of passengers but planned to resume service Sunday to and from Curacao, Aruba, Bonaire and other islands.

The flight disruptions also affected some travelers booked for Caribbean cruises.

Cruise operator Virgin Voyages said airline travelers unable to make it to San Juan in time for an upcoming cruise departure would be able to get a full credit for a future trip.

READ MORE: Who is Cilia Flores, Maduro's wife and 'first combatant'?

Police were called to the scene between the Papakura and Manurewa off-ramps.

The highway is blocked and police warn delays may last for some time.

Auckland Airport says 19,500 international travellers will depart today.

Police were called to the scene at about 4.30pm.

Tributes have been paid to first responders and other heroes who stepped in to save lives during the Bondi terror attack before the fifth Ashes test.

Before day one of play at the SCG, the Australia and England teams lined up in a guard of honour for 14 people who represented emergency services as well as members of the public who put their lives on the line to save others.

They included Ahmed Al Ahmed, who wrestled and disarmed one of the gunmen, and Jackson Doolan and Daniel McLaughlin, representing lifeguards at Bondi Beach who acted quickly to save lives.

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The heroes stood on the SCG pitch, and players, officials and 48,000 people in the crowd gave them a moving and rapturous standing ovation.

NSW Police and NSW Ambulance, as well as hospitalmedics were also represented.

A moment of silence for the 15 victims of last month's attack was held.

READ MORE: Why is the US attacking Venezuela?

Al Ahmed was the final person to walk through the guard of honour, with his left arm in a still in a sling after being shot.

He was in St George Hospital for over a fortnight, and had surgery on his shoulder.

Al Ahmed was released from hospital on December 29.

READ MORE: World leaders react with condemnation and caution after US attack on Venezuela

Bondi Lifeguards thanked Cricket Australia for the touching ceremony.

"As lifeguards, we are incredibly proud to make Ahmed al-Ahmed an honorary member of the Bondi Lifeguards, recognising his selfless heroics that helped save lives," a post said.

"Thank you… for your tribute to the first responders, and for once again allowing a moment's silence in honour of the families affected by the Bondi attack."

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