France rejects the US military operation in Venezuela and considers it illegal
In a significant development in the rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape of Latin America, the French government has expressed its strong condemnation of the manner in which the United States conducted its recent military operation in Venezuela, which resulted in the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu described these actions as "illegal," emphasizing the need to uphold international agreements even amidst deep political disagreements.
Paris' position: between rejecting the regime and supporting international legitimacy
French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated his disapproval of Washington's approach, stating that regime change should not be achieved through direct foreign military intervention. In a speech to the National Assembly, Macron explained that the French position is based on firm legal principles, saying, "Everything in this case is illegal. We reject the practices of the Nicolás Maduro regime and question the integrity of the 2024 elections, but at the same time, we consider the US military operation to be contrary to the UN Charter.".
Paris reiterated its call for the activation of a peaceful "democratic transition" process in Venezuela, led by opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez, whose election legitimacy has already been recognized by France and other European countries, considering that a political solution is the only way to end the ongoing crisis in the country without sliding into military chaos.
International concern and international repercussions
Internationally, France was not alone in expressing reservations; the United Nations also voiced its deep concern about the operation. Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated that these actions "undermined a fundamental principle of international law," warning that allowing states to use force against the territorial integrity or political independence of other states sets a dangerous precedent in international relations.
These statements came in response to the operation carried out by US forces on Saturday morning, which included an air strike and a heavy naval presence off the coast of Caracas, and ended with the arrest of Maduro and his wife.
Background of the crisis and historical context
These developments come amid long-standing tensions between Washington and Caracas, with the United States imposing crippling economic sanctions on Venezuela for years, accusing the Maduro regime of corruption, human rights abuses, and involvement in drug trafficking. The crisis deepened after the 2024 presidential election, which was widely disputed, with Maduro claiming victory while the opposition and the international community asserted that systematic fraud had occurred.
Observers believe that the US military operation may reshape the political landscape in Latin America, but at the same time it raises serious concerns about state sovereignty and the limits of foreign intervention, prompting major countries such as France to call for a unified international position that respects international law established by the member states of the United Nations.
