Europe divides over US capture of Venezuela’s Maduro

(MENAFN) European governments have expressed sharply differing reactions following the U.S. military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, highlighting divisions over sovereignty, international law, and relations with Washington.

On January 3, President Donald Trump announced that the operation led to the detention of Maduro and Cilia Flores, adding that the U.S. could maintain control over Venezuela with military forces if needed. The couple is currently held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, appearing before U.S. Judge Alvin Hellerstein on Monday, where they pleaded not guilty to federal charges involving drug trafficking and alleged ties to groups designated as terrorist organizations.

While most EU member states agree that Maduro lacks democratic legitimacy, the U.S. action has revealed a lack of consensus in Europe over the use of military force by its closest ally. Some capitals emphasize ending authoritarian rule and ensuring regional security, while others stress that sovereignty and international law must not be applied selectively.

At the EU level, a cautious approach has dominated. Twenty-six member states issued a joint statement, coordinated by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, calling for calm, restraint, and respect for international law and the UN Charter. Hungary was the only state not to endorse the statement.

“The European Union calls for calm and restraint by all actors, to avoid escalation and to ensure a peaceful solution to the crisis,” the statement said, underlining the “particular responsibility” of UN Security Council members to protect international security. The bloc also stressed that Venezuela’s future must be determined by its people and called for a peaceful, Venezuelan-led transition to democracy, while reiterating that it does not recognize Maduro as a democratically elected president.

Hungary’s EU affairs minister, Boka Janos, criticized the EU’s position, claiming it “clearly exposes the deep crisis of the EU's common foreign policy.” He argued that the bloc lacks the tools and influence to assert its interests effectively in an era dominated by great-power competition.

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