The European Union on Saturday urged restraint and strict adherence to international law after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro had been captured in a U.S. military operation, an extraordinary development that has heightened international concern over the crisis in Venezuela.
The announcement followed what Trump described as a “large-scale strike” carried out overnight against targets in Venezuela, after which Maduro and his wife, First Lady Cilia Flores, were flown out of the country by U.S. forces. The operation, if confirmed in full, would mark one of the most dramatic unilateral actions by the United States against a sitting head of state in recent decades.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc was closely monitoring the situation and reiterated long-standing European positions on Venezuela while stressing the need to respect international norms.
“The EU is closely monitoring the situation in Venezuela,” Kallas said in a post on X on Saturday. “The EU has repeatedly stated that Mr. Maduro lacks legitimacy and has defended a peaceful transition. Under all circumstances, the principles of international law and the U.N. Charter must be respected. We call for restraint.”
Kallas added that she had spoken with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio as well as the European Union’s ambassador in Caracas, indicating active diplomatic engagement as details of the operation continue to emerge.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro and Flores “will soon face the full wrath of American justice,” confirming that the couple had been transferred out of Venezuela following the U.S. action. In a separate post on X, Bondi described the two as “alleged international narco traffickers” and said they would face charges under an indictment in the Southern District of New York.
Rubio also briefed several U.S. lawmakers, telling them that Maduro and his wife had been “arrested by U.S. personnel to stand trial on criminal charges in the United States.” Washington has long accused Maduro and senior figures in his government of involvement in drug trafficking and other transnational crimes, allegations the Venezuelan leader has repeatedly denied.
The dramatic move has drawn cautious reactions across Europe, where governments have for years criticized Maduro’s rule but have also emphasized diplomacy and multilateral pressure rather than military intervention. The prime ministers of Italy and Spain were among those who said they were closely following developments.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called for de-escalation and respect for international law. “We urge everyone to de-escalate the situation and act responsibly,” Sánchez said in a post on X. “International law and the principles of the U.N. Charter must be respected.”
Italy’s government issued a similarly measured response, stressing concern for regional stability and the safety of civilians, while stopping short of endorsing or condemning the U.S. operation outright.
The EU has long maintained that Maduro’s continued hold on power lacks democratic legitimacy, particularly after disputed elections and the suppression of political opposition. Brussels has imposed sanctions on Venezuelan officials and repeatedly backed negotiations aimed at a peaceful political transition. However, EU officials have also consistently warned against actions that could escalate violence or undermine international legal frameworks.
Analysts said the capture of Maduro by U.S. forces, if fully substantiated, would raise profound legal and geopolitical questions, including over sovereignty, the use of force, and the precedent set by detaining a sitting head of state outside a multilateral mandate.
As of Saturday, Venezuelan authorities had not issued a detailed public response, and the situation on the ground remained unclear. With tensions high and information still emerging, European leaders emphasized caution, diplomacy, and adherence to international law as the crisis enters a highly uncertain phase.
