Europe’s Ambiguous Silence on US Intervention in Venezuela Sparks Global Criticism
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, the international community witnessed a blatant violation of national sovereignty on Saturday, January 3, 2025, when US forces under President Donald Trump’s orders stormed Caracas and abducted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro along with his wife.
While the military intervention drew swift condemnation from Russia and China, European Union officials responded with calculated ambiguity. Key EU figures including Antonio Costa, Ursula von der Leyen, and Kaja Kallas issued statements expressing “deep concern” and calling for “restraint,” but conspicuously avoided labeling the operation as an invasion or violation of international law.
Analysts suggest Europe’s tepid response stems from economic dependencies and geopolitical calculations. As the world’s largest oil reserves holder, Venezuela remains strategically important for energy-hungry European nations still recovering from the Russia-Ukraine energy crisis. The EU’s reluctance to challenge Washington also reflects fears of trade retaliation from the Trump administration, which has repeatedly labeled the bloc a “trade enemy.”
This stance has drawn sharp criticism from global observers and European left-wing parties alike. Irish Workers’ Party and People Before Profit both condemned the operation as “imperialist aggression,” while Chinese and Russian diplomats accused the West of applying international law selectively.
The episode has raised fundamental questions about Europe’s credibility as a defender of multilateralism. By failing to condemn a clear breach of UN Charter Article 2(4) – which prohibits force against territorial integrity – the EU may have compromised its ability to champion international norms in future crises.
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