The capture of Nicolas Maduro by US forces on January 3, 2026, in a military operation that took him to New York to face charges for narcoterrorism and drug trafficking, generated a strong impact on Argentine politics. While Javier Milei celebrated the fall of the “narcoterrorist dictator” and aligned the country with Donald Trump, the Kirchnerist sector and a large part of Peronism chose to condemn the US military intervention, defending Venezuelan sovereignty and the principle of non-interference.
Cristina Fernández de Kirchnera historical ally of Chavismo, harshly criticized the US action and defended Maduro as a victim of imperialist aggression, recalling the ideological ties between Kirchnerism and the governments of Hugo Chávez and his successor. In a public message, the former president questioned the violation of international law and rejected what she described as a “kidnapping” covered up under judicial pretexts.
Maximo Kirchnernational deputy and president of the Buenos Aires PJ, also repudiated the arrest, condemning the capture as a violation of international law and accusing Trump of seeking interests over Venezuelan natural resources.
For its part, Axel Kicillofgovernor of Buenos Aires and emerging figure of Peronism, issued an official statement repudiating the “military actions of the United States in Venezuela.” The Buenos Aires president argued that the intervention violates the Charter of the United Nations and the OAS, ignores the principle of non-intervention and creates a dangerous precedent for regional stability. Kicillof emphasized the Argentine tradition of peaceful dispute resolution and international dialogue, explicitly differentiating himself from Milei’s position.
Other references close to Kirchnerism, such as the Buenos Aires minister Andrés “Cuervo” Larroquealso repudiated the military operation, considering it a violation of international law and an attack against the sovereignty of Venezuela.
The social leader Juan Grabois expressed its repudiation in
The former mayor of Quilmes Mayra Mendoza reposted a statement from La Cámpora condemning the detention as a violation of international law.
This reaction from the Kirchnerist core contrasts with exceptions in broader Peronism, such as the Tucuman governor Osvaldo Jaldowho supported Trump’s action to eliminate a “dictator, drug dealers and terrorists.” However, the majority of the space prioritized the condemnation of foreign intervention over any direct criticism of Maduro, reviving old ideological alignments in a context where Kicillof seeks to project a national and federal profile for 2027.
Maduro’s arrest forced Peronism to quickly position itself, exposing internal divisions but also a cohesion in the defense of non-interference, a historical principle of the movement. In an electorally charged year, these statements set the stage for the debate on foreign policy and Argentina’s role in the region.
