Europeans Mumble Restraint on Maduro Capture –

The response around the globe to the seize of (former) Venezuelan drug kingpin and dictator Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces in the wee hours of Saturday morning has been considerably predictable, with our geopolitical foes like China, Iran, and Russia strongly condemning the operation. European leaders, meanwhile, fired off statements that all read like they’d all coordinated with AI to say the same factor: virtually nothing useful.

I can sum up most of the Euro statements for you: “Maduro bad, but we must follow the rule of law, kowtow to the United Nations, and use diplomacy and international relations to solve the long-running Venezuelan conundrum. Never mind that none of that has worked before, and Maduro destroyed the country and oppressed his people for almost 13 years.”

The subtext of many of the Europeans’ messages? “We’re not going to take a stand, but we secretly thank you, Mr. Trump, for taking care of this festering problem.”

Here’s French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot attempting to have it both methods:

En confisquant le pouvoir au peuple vénézuélien, en le privant de ses libertés fondamentales, Nicolás Maduro a porté une atteinte grave à sa dignité et à son droit à l’auto-détermination. La France s’est engagée avec constance, notamment par ses actions de médiation, en faveur du…

— Jean-Noël Barrot (@jnbarrot) January 3, 2026

Translated :

By confiscating energy from the Venezuelan people and depriving them of their basic freedoms, Nicolás Maduro has gravely undermined their dignity and their proper to self-determination. France has constantly dedicated itself, notably through its mediation efforts, to upholding the sovereignty of the Venezuelan people, whose voice must take priority.

But:

The navy operation that led to the seize of Nicolás Maduro violates the precept of non-resort to drive that underpins worldwide law. France recollects that no lasting political answer may be imposed from the surface and that sovereign peoples alone determine their future.

Peut-être (maybe), Mr. Barrot, but what precisely was your answer to the medicine coming across the U.S. border from Venezuela, a lot less the sanctioned oil they have been promoting to the Russians and the Iranians?

READ MORE: Venezuela Promises to Be a Geopolitical Game Changer If Trump Can Convert a Triumph Into Victory

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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer took the courageous stance of immediately distancing himself from the entire thing:

“The UK was not involved in any way in this operation, and as you would expect we are focusing on British nationals in Venezuela and working very closely with our embassy, and so we want to talk to the president, I will want to talk to allies, but at the moment we need to establish the facts,” Starmer said. 

Here’s Kaja Kallas, European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, with a similar-sounding assertion:

I’ve spoken with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and our Ambassador in Caracas. The EU is intently monitoring the scenario in Venezuela.

The EU has repeatedly said that Mr Maduro lacks legitimacy and has defended a peaceable transition. Under all circumstances, the rules…

— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) January 3, 2026

Under all circumstances, the rules of worldwide law and the UN Charter must be revered. We call for restraint.

The security of EU residents in the nation is our top precedence.

While there are official questions about worldwide law and regime change that are truthful to ask, the Europeans, for the most half, appear to be saying, “We’ll complain a little, but we’re not actually ever going to do anything about the situation; we prefer to watch the U.S. take the lead — and take the heat.” Sound acquainted?

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