European Leaders Divided Over US Removal of Maduro in Venezuela
European leaders have expressed a range of responses following the United States' removal of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. While many welcomed the end of Maduro's rule, they also stressed the need for adherence to international law and a peaceful transition.
Maduro's legitimacy had not been recognized by the European Union since the June 2024 elections, which were widely regarded as fraudulent. US officials justified the operation as an act of self-defense against drug trafficking, a claim challenged by international law scholars based on the United Nations Charter.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis described Maduro's dictatorship as brutal and said its end offers new hope, though he avoided commenting on the legality of the US intervention. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni characterized the operation as a legitimate defensive intervention.
In contrast, EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged restraint and emphasized the importance of upholding international law and ensuring a peaceful transition.
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the conclusion of Maduro's dictatorship and called for a peaceful transition, but French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot criticized the US action as violating the principle of non-use of force.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz highlighted the complexity of the legal assessment surrounding the US intervention, urging careful consideration. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer underscored the importance of international law, though he did not specify its application in this case.
