European leaders appear torn in face of new world order after Venezuela attack

"European leaders emerged divided and torn as they tried to welcome the ejection of Venezuela's authoritarian president, but still uphold the principles of international law that did not appear to allow Donald Trump to capture Nicolas Maduro, let alone declare that the US will run Venezuela and control its oil industry. Europe tried to focus on the principle of a democratic transition, pointing out that the continent had not recognised Maduro as the legitimate leader of Venezuela"

"International lawyers say the US rejection of Maduro's legitimacy opens a path for Washington to argue that he does not enjoy sovereign immunity as a head of state in the US domestic courts, in the same way that George Bush was allowed to try Manuel Noriega in the US after his capture in 1989. US officials have claimed the operation against Venezuela was justified on the grounds of self-defence, arguing that the government was involved in drug-trafficking."

"The Yale professor of international law Oona Hathaway, however, said she saw no plausible justification under the UN charter for the US use of force. If drug trafficking is a reasonable justification for attacking another country then a whole range of possible arguments can be made that basically mean that self-defence is no longer a real exception. It's the new rule."

European leaders emerged divided over the ejection of Venezuela's president and the tension between welcoming a change and upholding international law. Europe emphasised a democratic transition and noted non-recognition of Maduro since widely regarded fraudulent June 2024 elections. Trump rejected opposition leader Maria Corina Machado while European leaders embraced her. International lawyers say US rejection of Maduro's legitimacy could allow Washington to argue lack of sovereign immunity in US courts, paralleling Manuel Noriega's case. US officials justified the operation as self-defence linked to drug-trafficking. Yale professor Oona Hathaway said no plausible UN Charter justification exists and warned that treating drug trafficking as grounds for attack removes limits on force.

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