European powers weigh in on US-led operation in Venezuela as Maduro is detained

Support continues to pour in from across the Western world following a US-led military operation, directed by Donald Trump, which involved the bombing of targets in Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro.

Earlier in the day, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas offered tacit support for the move, asserting that Maduro was “illegitimate.” By evening, other European leaders issued even more explicit statements regarding the intervention.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addressed the US strikes on Venezuela via the social media platform X. While emphasizing that any decision regarding Venezuela must align with international law and the United Nations (UN) Charter, von der Leyen noted, “We are following the situation in Venezuela very closely. We stand with the Venezuelan people and favor a peaceful and democratic transition in the country. Any decision must be in accordance with international law and the UN Charter.”

French President Emmanuel Macron was more direct in his assessment on X, stating, “The people of Venezuela have today been liberated from the dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro and can feel only joy.” Claiming that Maduro had “seriously undermined the dignity of his own people by seizing power and trampling on fundamental freedoms,” the French leader added that the “upcoming transition” must be peaceful, democratic, and respectful of the will of the Venezuelan people. “We hope that President Edmundo González Urrutia, elected in 2024, can quickly facilitate this transition,” Macron said.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated that her government, alongside its primary international partners, had never recognized the election victory declared by Maduro. She condemned the regime’s repression and reaffirmed Italy’s long-standing support for the Venezuelan people’s democratic aspirations.

Meloni continued: “Consistent with Italy’s historical position, the government believes that external military intervention is not the path to ending totalitarian regimes. However, it considers a defensive intervention legitimate when used against hybrid attacks on one’s own security, such as state institutions that fuel and encourage drug trafficking.”

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz argued that Maduro had “led his country into disaster” and claimed the recent elections were fraudulent. “For this reason, like many countries in the world, we did not recognize this presidency. Maduro played a problematic role in the region,” Merz said. Defending the view that the “legal classification” of the US attack is “complex,” Merz added, “We are taking our time on this matter. International law remains the benchmark. Political instability must not emerge in Venezuela now. The goal must be an orderly transition to a government legitimized by elections.”

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer declined to answer questions regarding whether Donald Trump’s military intervention against Venezuela violated international law. In an interview on the BBC program Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, the Prime Minister stopped short of condemning the US strikes. Starmer stated he was waiting for all the facts to emerge but insisted he would “not shirk from it,” adding that he has been a “lifelong defender of international law.” Starmer had previously clarified that the United Kingdom was not involved in the large-scale attacks carried out in Venezuela on Saturday and had not spoken with Trump regarding the operation that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also congratulated Trump for his “courageous and historic leadership in the name of freedom and justice,” adding, “I salute your resolve and the brilliant achievements of your brave soldiers.”