La detención del presidente Nicolás Maduro: soberanía territorial, inmunidades e intervención de la Corte Penal Internacional

• Aguirre-Lanegra, Andherson Jhordan ^[1]
  1. [1] Universidad Privada del Norte

     Universidad Privada del Norte

     Provincia de Trujillo, Perú

     
• Localización: Revista Electrónica de Derecho Internacional Contemporáneo: REDIC, ISSN-e 2618-303X, Vol. 9, Nº. 9, 2026
• Idioma: español
• DOI: 10.24215/2618303Xe086
• Títulos paralelos:
  • The arrest of president Nicolás Maduro: Territorial sovereignty, immunities, and the intervention of the International Criminal Court
• Enlaces
  • Texto completo
• Resumen
  • español

    La detención del presidente en ejercicio de Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro Moros, el 3 de enero de 2026, constituye un acontecimiento de profunda relevancia para el derecho internacional contemporáneo. Este artículo analiza la legalidad internacional de dicha captura ejecutada dentro del territorio venezolano por agentes de un Estado extranjero y sustentada en acusaciones de «narco-terrorismo». Desde un enfoque dogmático-analítico y comparado, el estudio examina cinco planos normativos: la distinción entre el derecho penal internacional y el derecho penal transnacional, la incidencia del reconocimiento diplomático sobre la titularidad de las inmunidades soberanas, la prohibición del uso de la fuerza y la inviolabilidad territorial, el régimen de inmunidades personales y el sistema de cooperación de la Corte Penal Internacional. Los resultados sostienen una tesis de legalidad diferenciada: la detención resulta incompatible con el derecho internacional cuando se fundamenta en la acción unilateral de un Estado, al transgredir la soberanía territorial y vulnerar la inmunidad personal; sin embargo, puede adquirir validez jurídica parcial si se configura como ejecución de un mandato de la Corte Penal Internacional por crímenes de lesa humanidad, siempre que el arresto se practique dentro de los cauces de cooperación previstos por el Estatuto de Roma.

  • English

    The arrest of Venezuela’s incumbent President, Nicolás Maduro Moros, on January 3, 2026, constitutes an event of profound relevance for contemporary international law. This article examines the international legality of the arrest, which was carried out within Venezuelan territory by agents of a foreign State and based on charges of narco-terrorism. From a dogmatic-analytical and comparative perspective, the study addresses five normative dimensions: the distinction between International Criminal Law and Transnational Criminal Law, the impact of diplomatic recognition on sovereign immunities, the prohibition of the use of force and territory integrity, the rules of personal immunities, and the cooperation system of the International Criminal Court. The findings support a thesis of differentiated legality: the arrest is incompatible with international law when based on unilateral State action, as it violates territorial sovereignty and immunity ratione personae; however, it may acquire partial legal validity if taken as the execution of a mandate from the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity, provided the arrest is carried out within the cooperation channels established by the Rome Statute.

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