European leaders have responded with measured caution to President Donald Trump’s military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of strongman Nicolás Maduro. While avoiding outright condemnation of an action critics label a violation of Venezuelan sovereignty, key European figures emphasized the importance of international law.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the legal dimensions of the intervention as “complex,” while British Prime Minister Keir Starmer characterized developments as a “fast-moving situation.” The European Union acknowledged the potential for democratic transition in Venezuela following Maduro’s ouster but carefully avoided endorsing Washington’s assertion that it would now administer the country.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez delivered the strongest rebuke among European leaders, stating the intervention clearly “violates international law.” Spain maintains deep historical and cultural ties to Latin America.
The generally restrained response reflects Europe’s strategic calculation to preserve cooperation with the Trump administration on more pressing security concerns, particularly regarding Ukraine. European diplomats privately acknowledge their dependence on U.S. support for Kyiv’s defense against Russian aggression.
The Venezuela operation has heightened European anxieties about Trump’s broader geopolitical ambitions. Most alarmingly, Trump reiterated his interest in acquiring Greenland, citing U.S. national security interests, despite vehement objections from Denmark, which governs the autonomous territory.
Analysts from the German Marshall Fund warn that the Venezuela intervention sets a dangerous precedent that could legitimize powerful nations imposing their will on neighboring territories, creating potential implications for Taiwan, Ukraine, and Moldova.
The European Council on Foreign Relations suggests European nations face an inevitable choice between accommodating or resisting Washington’s ambitions, noting that both approaches carry significant costs for transatlantic relations.