EU Views U.S. Venezuela Attack as "Democratic Opportunity"

(MENAFN) The European Union declared Monday that recent US military intervention in Venezuela has opened an "opportunity for a democratic transition led by the Venezuelan people," while emphasizing the importance of respecting international law and preventing further escalation.

During the European Commission's midday press briefing, spokesperson Anitta Hipper reiterated that President Nicolas Maduro "lacks the legitimacy of a democratically elected leader" and confirmed the bloc continues to advocate for a "peaceful, Venezuelan-led transition to democracy."

"EU is calling for calm and restrain by all the actors, and also to avoid escalation and to ensure also peaceful solution to the crisis. We have inserted also the reference to the need to respect and uphold international law," she said.

Hipper stressed that UN Security Council members bear a "particular responsibility" to uphold international law as a pillar of global security.

"As the events just unfolded, it is too early to look into and assess all the implications in terms of legal assessment... Let's take it step by step and also to see how the facts are and the events are unfolding. We are now at the stage where we have seen a dictator Maduro, that is lacking any legitimacy of a democratically elected leader. We have continued as a EU to advocate for a Venezuelan-led also peaceful transition to democracy," she added.

She underlined that the EU recognizes opposition figure Maria Corina Machado as a key actor in any transition process, citing the 2024 vote in which "millions of Venezuelans supported change."

Fellow European Commission spokesperson Paula Pinho reinforced that position, stating the weekend's developments "provide an opportunity for a democratic transition led by the Venezuelan people."

When pressed on how the EU characterizes US actions, Pinho indicated the bloc has not focused on labeling the events, emphasizing the political outcome.

"It's obviously for the Venezuelan people to run the country, as it is for any people across the world, wherever and whatever country we're talking about," she said.

On Saturday, Trump announced that the US military action on Venezuela resulted in the capture of Maduro and his wife Flores, also pledging to assert American control over the country for the time being, with US troops if necessary.

Maduro and Flores were transported to New York late Saturday and are currently detained at a facility in Brooklyn. They face US federal charges tied to drug trafficking and alleged cooperation with gangs designated as terrorist organizations.

Maduro has denied the accusations, and officials in Caracas have called for the couple's release.

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