EU Sees US Military Action in Venezuela Creating Opportunity for Democratic Transition

JAKARTA - The European Union on Monday said the United States military action last weekend in Venezuela 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 a European Commission press conference, spokesperson Anitta Hipper reiterated President Nicolas Maduro "has no legitimacy as a democratically elected leader" and said the bloc continues to advocate a "peaceful transition to democracy led by the Venezuelan people."

"The European Union calls for calm and restraint by all actors, as well as to avoid escalation and to ensure a peaceful solution to the crisis. We have also included a reference to the need to respect and enforce international law," he said, launching Anadolu (6/1).

Hipper continued, members of the UN Security Council have a "special responsibility" to uphold international law as a pillar of global security.

"As the events that have just occurred continue, it is still too early to examine and assess all of their implications in terms of legal assessments. Let's see step by step and also how the facts and events develop," he explained.

"We are now at a stage where we have seen a dictator Maduro, who has no legitimacy as a democratically elected leader. As the European Union, we continue to advocate a peaceful transition to democracy led by the Venezuelan people," said Hipper.

He underlined that the European Union recognizes opposition figure Maria Corina Machado as a key actor in any transition process, referring to the 2024 elections in which "millions of Venezuelans support change."

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

Responding to a question on how the EU characterizes the US actions, Pinho said the bloc is not focused on labeling the events, but rather emphasizes their political results.

"Clearly, it is the Venezuelan people who have the right to run this country, just as the people of the entire world, in any country and wherever we speak," he said.

Earlier, President Donald Trump on Saturday announced US military action in Venezuela resulted in the arrest of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, promising to enforce American control over the country for a time, with US forces if necessary.

President Maduro and Flores were flown to New York on Saturday night and held in a detention center in Brooklyn. They face US federal charges related to drug trafficking and alleged cooperation with gangs designated as terrorist organizations.

The Venezuelan leader has denied the allegations, and officials in Caracas have called for the couple's release.