Turkey's Erdogan Tells Trump Violating Sovereignty Risks 'Serious Global Complications' After Maduro's Capture

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he warned U.S. counterpart Donald Trump against actions that violate national sovereignty, telling him such steps risk causing "serious global complications" following the U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

Speaking after a Cabinet meeting in Ankara, Erdogan said he had conveyed Turkey's concerns directly to Trump in a phone call and urged that Venezuela not be left to instability.

"Violating the sovereignty of nations and disregarding international law are risky steps that could lead to serious global complications," Erdogan said, according to remarks cited by EFE.

Erdogan said Ankara would continue to stand by the "friendly people of Venezuela in their struggle for prosperity, peace, and development," adding that Turkey does not approve of any action that breaches international law. He said Turkey seeks balanced outcomes that serve both its own interests and those of what he described as the "brotherly Venezuelan nation."

The comments come after U.S. forces captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in Caracas on Saturday and transported them to New York, where both pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking and weapons charges. Erdogan said Turkey has consistently taken a "clear stance" against injustice and illegality, and reiterated that Ankara views respect for sovereignty and the United Nations framework as central principles.

Turkey has maintained close ties with Venezuela in recent years, positioning itself as a rare interlocutor with access to both Caracas and Washington. According to analysts cited by regional outlets, Ankara managed to leverage its NATO membership while sustaining political and commercial relations with Venezuela, allowing it to act as a communication channel between the South American country and the U.S. for the last few months.

Analysts have noted that Turkey has played a role in helping Venezuela mitigate U.S. sanctions through trade mechanisms, including gold refining and continued air links via Turkish Airlines. Ankara has defended those activities as legitimate state-to-state commerce, while U.S. officials have monitored them as potential sanctions-evasion channels.

In his remarks on Monday, Erdogan said Turkey would not be sidelined by efforts to escalate conflict in the region. "Those who seek to plunge our region into bloodshed will try to sideline us, but we will not fall for it," he said, adding that Ankara would continue to pursue its policies independently while opposing actions it views as destabilizing.