The EU has reacted when tension was growing in the Caribbean. The task has fallen to the High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security of the EU, Kaja Kallas, who this Saturday called for respect for international law. The Estonian has avoided directly referring to Trump’s attacks and the capture of Nicolás Maduro. Kallas, who has assured that the Union is observing the situation in the Latin American country “very closely,” has spoken with the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.
“The EU has repeatedly declared that Maduro lacks legitimacy and has defended a peaceful transition,” Kallas said on social media. “In any circumstance, the principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations must be respected. We call for moderation,” he added in a brief communication.
I have spoken with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and our Ambassador in Caracas. The EU is closely monitoring the situation in Venezuela.
The EU has repeatedly stated that Mr Maduro lacks legitimacy and has defended a peaceful transition. Under all circumstances, the principles…
— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas)
The call to respect international law has a very clear derivative for the EU in general and for Kallas itself in particular: Ukraine. A unilateral action like the one carried out by the United States in Venezuela can be read in Moscow and Beijing as an open door to their aspirations for the invaded country in Europe or Taiwan, respectively. Hence, this difficult balance in a statement that appeals to international norms without attacking the necessary American ally on Ukrainian soil and criticism against Maduro.
Like Kallas, the president of the European Council, António Costa, has maintained a line of caution on social network
Following with great concern the situation in Venezuela. The European Union calls for de-escalation and a resolution based on the framework of International Law and the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.
The European Union will continue…
— António Costa (@eucopresident)
Saying that what has happened in Venezuela is followed with attention and concern has been the solution that many European capitals have chosen. There is no condemnation, for the moment, of the step that Washington has taken. And it doesn’t seem like there will be. .
Italy, for its part, has been more cautious. “The President of the Government, Giorgia Meloni, is closely monitoring the situation in Venezuela, maintaining constant contact with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, to obtain information about our national contacts,” the Italian Executive stated in a brief statement. Belgium has followed the same line: its Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maxime Prévot, has noted that he is “closely following” the events.
From the European Parliament, however, the president of the Socialists and Democrats group, the Spanish Iratxe García Pérez, has been tougher. “The situation in Venezuela is deeply alarming. Democracy is never built with bombs, nor by force, nor at the service of Trump’s interests,” said the socialist MEP, who has demanded that “the EU leads [la transición] through dialogue and mediation.”
