Nepal, Jan. 13 -- The US capture of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from their official residence in Caracas in a military raid has sent shockwaves around the world and drawn widespread condemnation. Normally, such a breach of sovereignty, carried out without authorization from the UN Security Council, would constitute a clear act of war under international law. Yet Venezuela's South American neighbours have been notably circumspect in their reactions-an ambivalence that exposes deep divisions within the Latin American community.

The region's largest country, Brazil, has made a few protesting noises, but remained on the sidelines. Argentina has voiced vocal support for the US action, as has Paraguay. Ecua...