Merz: assessment of US operation “complex”
Following the US operation in Venezuela, Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz has warned against political instability.
Berlin (dpa) – Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said it is too early to make a legal assessment of the US operation in Venezuela. “Passing legal judgement on the US operation is complex. We will take the time needed,” he said, adding that as a general principle, relations between states had to be governed by the principles of international law. “There must be no political instability in Venezuela now. What is needed is an orderly transition towards a government legitimised by elections.” In the early hours of Saturday, the United States carried out a military operation in Venezuela, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and removing them from the country.
Merz went on to say that Maduro had led his country to ruin. “The last election was rigged. This is why we did not recognise the presidency – like many other countries around the world,” the Federal Chancellor said. “Maduro played a problematic role in the region, through disastrous alliances worldwide and by entangling Venezuela in the drug trade.”
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas wrote on X: “In all circumstances, the principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations must be upheld. We call for restraint.”