William Julié commented on the recent capture by the United States of the Venezuelan President and his wife. He stressed that this capture is contrary to international law and does not constitute extradition. He recalled that there have been several similar precedents: the capture of Panamanian President Manuel Noriega in 1989, and the capture and exfiltration of Carlos from Sudan by France in 1994.
In the case of Nicolas Maduro, William Julié specified that US and international courts will have to rule on two aspects: the consequences of the circumstances of his capture on the possibility for US courts to prosecute and try him, as well as that of his immunity as a sitting head of state, which is supposed to be absolute, in accordance with international custom and as recalled by the Court of Cassation in July 2025 in the case of Bashar Al-Assad.
William Julié emphasised that the central issue now lies in characterising violations of international law by the United States, as well as identifying potential sanctions and their modalities.