Venezuelan Defense Ministry:

The Bolivarian National Armed Force strongly rejects the cowardly kidnapping of citizen Nicolás Maduro Moros, Constitutional President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, our Commander-in-Chief, and of his wife, the First Lady Dr. Cilia Flores de Maduro; an act carried out yesterday, Saturday, January 3 of the current year, after cold-bloodedly murdering a large part of his security team, soldiers, and innocent civilians.

We activate, across the entire national geographic space and in perfect civil-military-police fusion, the Full Operational Readiness, in order to ensure the freedom, independence, and sovereignty of the Nation.

WATCH: Heavily armed American forces transporting Venezuela's Maduro staged a show of force on New York streets with van doors open.

Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López:

Yesterday, they kidnapped the person that the people of Venezuela had elected as their President.

Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López:

The National Bolivarian Armed Forces demands the fast release of President Maduro and the First Lady.

Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López:

If today this happened against Venezuela, tomorrow it could happen against any state.

This represents a threat toward the global order.

U.S. Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez:

What's left of the Cartel of the Suns regime in Venezuela is bragging with fart-filled speeches — ignore them. It's pure theater.

Delcy, Jorge, Diosdado, and Padrino López know they don't have much time left.

Their fates could end up being much worse than those of Nicolás and Cilia.

Russia's Medvedev:

Team Trump is tough and cynical in advancing its country’s interests. Removing Maduro had nothing to do with drugs – only oil, and they openly admit this.

Lex fortissimum is clearly stronger than ordinary justice, but whether they can run Venezuela remotely is a big question.

Trump to the Atlantic:

If Delcy Rodríguez doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro.

Trump to the Atlantic:

We do need Greenland, absolutely.

[Greenland is] surrounded by Russian and Chinese ships.

We need it for defense.

Trump to the Atlantic:

You know, rebuilding there (Venezuela) and regime change, anything you want to call it, is better than what you have right now. Can’t get any worse.

Trump on Venezuela:

The country’s gone to hell. It’s a failed country. It’s a totally failed country. It’s a country that’s a disaster in every way.

Source: The Atlantic

Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke by phone with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Erdoğan said both countries aim to further deepen cooperation in the coming period.

He noted that Türkiye is closely monitoring developments in Somalia and Yemen, stressing the importance of protecting their territorial integrity for regional stability.

Erdoğan also said Türkiye is ready to support efforts to bring the parties in Yemen together.

Israeli Journalist Hallel Bitton Rosen:

Israel and the United States have a very clear interest in overthrowing or changing the regime in Iran.

So I think Venezuela is the last rehearsal before Iran.

Zelensky:

Ukraine seeks peace. But Ukraine will not give its strength to anyone.

The death toll from the U.S. attack on Venezuela has risen to 80, including civilians and military personnel.

Source: NYT

Germany’s foreign intelligence service (BND) secretly monitored phone calls of U.S. President Barack Obama for several years, intercepting communications from Air Force One.

The surveillance ended in 2014 and was not authorized by Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The BND exploited weak aircraft encryption, kept transcripts tightly restricted, and destroyed them after use.

It remains unclear when the spying began or who in the Chancellery knew about it.

Source: DIE ZEIT

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen:

Trump must stop his threats against Greenland.

It makes absolutely no sense to talk about the U.S. needing to take over Greenland.

U.S. has no right to annex any of the three nations in the Danish Kingdom.

Some protesters in Ilam, Iran are now armed with guns.