France has expressed its firm rejection of the approach taken by the United States in dealing with the Venezuelan crisis, describing the military operation that led to the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro as "illegal." This official stance was articulated by Sébastien Lecornu, who affirmed before the National Assembly that Paris cannot support military actions that violate international conventions, even if there are fundamental disagreements with the targeted regime.
In elaborating on the French position, President Emmanuel Macron explained that while the Maduro regime is illegitimate from Paris's perspective, this does not justify Washington's disregard for international legal frameworks and its use of military force to change regimes. "Everything in this affair is illegal," Macron stated. "The regime of Nicolás Maduro, the 2024 elections, and the US military operation, which violates the UN Charter." The French official called for a return to the political process, emphasizing the importance of a "democratic transition" led by opposition leader Edmundo González, whose election as president of Venezuela France has already recognized. France maintains that the solution must stem from the will of the Venezuelan people, not from foreign military intervention.
International concern and violation of sovereignty
Internationally, Paris was not alone in its objections; the United Nations expressed grave concern over the rapidly unfolding events in Caracas. The international organization warned that the military operation "undermined a fundamental principle of international law" concerning respect for the sovereignty of states. Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated that "states must not threaten or use force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state," noting that the US airborne and naval deployment to arrest a head of state and his wife set a dangerous precedent in international relations.
Background of the crisis and history of tension
These developments come against the backdrop of a long and complex history of tension between Washington and Caracas. For years, the United States has imposed harsh economic sanctions on Venezuela to pressure the Maduro regime, which it accuses of corruption, human rights abuses, and election fraud. The crisis deepened after the 2024 elections, which were widely disputed, with Maduro declaring victory while the opposition and the international community, including France, asserted that the opposition candidate had won.
Observers believe this military operation could have far-reaching geopolitical repercussions, placing Washington's European allies in a difficult position between their desire for Maduro's departure and their adherence to the principles of international law that prohibit direct military intervention to change regimes. This move could also exacerbate international polarization and provoke other global powers that reject unilateral American hegemony, further complicating the political landscape in Latin America and threatening the region's stability.
