India, Jan. 4 -- Governments across the world reacted sharply on Saturday after the United States said it had carried out military strikes in Venezuela and captured President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, triggering widespread condemnation and urgent calls for restraint.

Russia said it was "extremely concerned" by reports that Venezuela's president and first lady had been forcibly removed during what Moscow described as aggressive U.S. actions. The Russian Foreign Ministry said there was no justification for the operation, adding that "ideological hostility has prevailed over diplomacy." Venezuela remains Russia's most important ally in South America, though Moscow stopped short of offering direct assistance.

Brazilian Pres...