EU sees US military action in Venezuela as 'opportunity for Venezuelan-led democratic transition'

BRUSSELS

The EU on Monday said recent US military action in Venezuela has created an "opportunity for a democratic transition led by the Venezuelan people," while stressing the need to respect international law and avoid further escalation.

Speaking at the European Commission's midday press briefing, spokesperson Anitta Hipper reiterated that President Nicolas Maduro "lacks the legitimacy of a democratically elected leader" and said 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 added that members of the UN Security Council have 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."

Another European Commission spokesperson Paula Pinho echoed that position, saying the developments over the weekend "provide an opportunity for a democratic transition led by the Venezuelan people."

Responding to questions on how the EU characterizes US actions, Pinho said 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 flown to New York late Saturday and are being held at a detention center 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.