US President Donald Trump is eyeing off Venezuela's substantial oil reserves after American forces seized President Nicolas Maduro during a large-scale military strike.
International law experts are questioning the legality of Washington's actions, which follows months of escalating tension.
Venezuelan expat Reveka Hurtado, who owns popular Melbourne restaurant Papelon, said the intervention had brought mixed emotions.
"We need a lot of love and compassion from people that are from the countries that we live in," she said as her voice quivered.
"For me, having a Venezuelan restaurant is my way to keep alive the culture, the food, the flavour and who we are beyond the borders."
Mr Trump repeatedly accused Mr Maduro of operating a "narco-terrorist" regime under a corrupt and illegitimate dictatorship.
He told reporters the US could launch a second strike on Venezuela if its government does not co-operate.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has urged all parties to support diplomacy to prevent an escalation.
"We continue to support international law and a peaceful, democratic transition in Venezuela that reflects the will of the Venezuelan people," he said.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said the coalition supported Mr Maduro being taken into custody.
"We have a long standing position to support the people of Venezuela to a democratic process, to free and fair elections, to remove them from the crushing weight of this regime," she told Nine's Today.
Political science and international relations expert Juan Zahir Naranjo Caceres said the attack highlighted the risks Australia faced when its closest security partner acted outside accepted interpretations of international law.
"That behaviour will be associated - fairly or not - with US-centred security architectures such as AUKUS," Mr Caceres said.
The operation could complicate Australia's efforts to position itself as a defender of international law.
"Canberra relies on the language of a rules-based order to criticise coercive behaviour in its own region," Mr Caceres said.
"So any perception that Australia quietly accepts or excuses legally dubious actions by the US directly undercuts that narrative in Southeast Asia and the Pacific."
Mr Trump has threatened to take over Greenland for defence purposes.
He also warned of military action against Colombia's government, telling reporters such an operation "sounds good to me".
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