EU Calls U.S. Venezuela Action Path to Democratic Shift
During the European Commission's midday press conference on Monday, spokesperson Anitta Hipper reaffirmed the bloc's position that President Nicolas Maduro "lacks the legitimacy of a democratically elected leader" while championing 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," Hipper stated.
She emphasized that UN Security Council members bear a "particular responsibility" to maintain international law as fundamental to worldwide 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 elaborated.
Hipper highlighted the EU's recognition of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado as a critical figure in any transitional government, referencing the 2024 electoral contest where "millions of Venezuelans supported change."
Paula Pinho, another European Commission spokesperson, reinforced this assessment, declaring that the weekend's events "provide an opportunity for a democratic transition led by the Venezuelan people."
When questioned about how the EU classifies US actions, Pinho clarified the bloc has deliberately avoided categorizing the operation, instead focusing on political ramifications.
"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 explained.
On Saturday, Trump confirmed the US military operation in Venezuela successfully captured Maduro and his wife Flores, while pledging to maintain American oversight of the nation temporarily, deploying US troops if required.
Maduro and Flores were transported to New York late Saturday and remain detained at a Brooklyn facility. They confront US federal accusations related to drug trafficking and purported collaboration with organizations designated as terrorist groups.
Maduro has rejected the allegations, while officials in Caracas have demanded the couple's immediate release.
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