"With few notable exceptions such as Spain, the Netherlands and Norway most European leaders have fudged their response. Spain, in fact, has acted without its EU partners, condemning the US attack alongside a group of Latin American countries. European governments seem unable to utter in the same breath that, although Nicolas Maduro was an illegitimate dictator, the US attack to topple him is a gross violation of international law."
"Others, such as the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, strangely talked about looking into the legality of the US military action, as if there were any doubt about its nature. Worse still, Trump-friendly Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni defined this act of external military intervention as legitimate self-defence against narco-trafficking. These are all European leaders, who head liberal democracies and represent institutions that elevate multilateralism and international law as core principles."
European governments hesitated to condemn the US military operation to overthrow Venezuela's government, with only Spain, the Netherlands and Norway taking notably critical stances. Spain acted independently alongside Latin American countries to denounce the attack. Several leaders referenced international law while expressing relief at Maduro's fall, producing ambiguous positions. Some leaders sought legal clarifications or framed the intervention as self-defence against narco-trafficking. European responses prioritized security considerations and transatlantic ties, leading to muted criticism of a clear violation of international law. Three security-related explanations for European hesitation are suggested, but none withstand scrutiny.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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