Singapore’s Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong has expressed deep concern over the United States’ recent military operation in Venezuela, warning that its consequences could ripple far beyond the Americas, even reaching South Asia. On January 3, U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who now face charges in the United States related to drug trafficking and other serious offenses.

Lee acknowledged Venezuela’s complex political and economic challenges but emphasized that such problems cannot justify a unilateral military intervention by another country without international authorization. He described the operation as a potential violation of international law and a threat to the United Nations Charter, which protects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations.

The Singaporean leader cautioned that while the immediate results of the U.S. action might seem successful, the long-term consequences could be highly destabilizing. Small nations, he said, face increased vulnerability when larger powers act without restraint, creating a world where military might overrides diplomacy and legal norms.

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From the perspective of smaller states, Lee stressed that this incident sets a troubling precedent. If powerful nations can act on their own interests without accountability, the global order risks becoming unpredictable, potentially putting regions like Southeast Asia and South Asia in a precarious position amid rising geopolitical tensions.

Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated its commitment to upholding international law and protecting the sovereignty of all countries, especially those less capable of defending themselves. Lee warned that unilateral military actions, even if temporarily successful, carry “grievous and unpredictable consequences” that could reshape the international system for years to come.

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