Volt demands Europe to unite after the military operation in Venezuela

(Photo: President Trump's Truth Social page)

After the kidnapping of Venezuelan leader Maduro and the foreseen occupation of the country to permit access to its oil industry, European leaders get a live example of the new US national security strategy, which calls for regime change to secure US interests around the globe. 

European governments are also being targeted and the US is not hiding its interest to get access to Greenland’s natural resources. Volt calls for a firm response from leaders in Europe. A response that must bring member states closer together.

After the recent events, the international order is dead. Europe should not accept this new status quo, but act by launching an initiative for a reformed international order to be able to hold countries and their leaders accountable - Maduro, Putin, but also the US president.

Borja Ranzinger, Volt Slovenia

If Trump argues that Denmark cannot defend the northern route around Greenland, why doesn’t the European Union step up in support? The EU Rapid Deployment Capacity for peace-keeping and stabilisation has never been deployed - member states could propose a vote in the EU Council and set a precursor for a future European military.

Sven Franck, Volt Slovenia

The U.S. military operation in Venezuela - culminating in Nicolás Maduro’s capture, his transfer to the United States, and President Trump’s declaration that the U.S. will ‘run’ the country until an ‘orderly transition’ - is an open breach of international law and a stark return to the logic of ‘might makes right.’ If anyone still believes in a resilient ‘rules-based international order,’ Venezuela is the live demonstration that such rules are enforced only when powerful actors find it convenient. Europe must draw the only serious conclusion: to uphold our values, we must be prepared to defend them - and that requires real European economic power, military strength, autonomy, and deterrence. In the US National Security Strategy, there is the explicit discussion of using countries like Austria as a lever to divide Europe and prevent genuine European capacity to act. That is why Austria must ask, without illusions, what we will contribute to a capable, united Europe - because neutrality nostalgia is unlikely to be enough.

Karoline Adam, Volt Austria

We must understand that such an action isn’t irrelevant. This event is the return to an order where attacking its weaker neighbor is normal and where national sovereignty is constantly violated by stronger powers. Europe and European leaders cannot accept this order and have the duty to fight to keep the rule of law in the world so that our European values of democracy and liberty can once again strive.

Elliott Fontaine-Pousset, Volt France

We are under no illusions about what Maduro's regime is: an autocracy that brutally represses the opposition. But we cannot condone this undermining of the world order and the United States' predatory approach to resources.. We condemn this American aggression against Venezuela in the strongest possible terms and call on our governments to do the same!

Melvyn Kuetgens, Volt Belgium

Similar releases are being published by Volt chapters across the European Union including statements from members of Volt Slovenia, Volt Austria, Volt Hungary, Volt Belgium and Volt France.

Contact

• Špela Majcen Marušič - Press and Media -  [email protected]

• Borja Ranzinger - Party Registration - [email protected] 

About Volt

Volt Slovenija is the local section of Volt, a paneuropean movement with 40.000 members in 34 European countries, 5 MEPs in the European Parliament and deputies in the Netherlands and Cyprus. Volt works for a more united Europe, that is not only economically integrated, but also includes a democratic and social dimension. Volt Slovenija is currently collecting signatures to register as a political party ahead of next year’s national elections. The party defined three priorities: benefiting from more European integration, decentralisation to reduce the cost of living and create opportunities throughout Slovenia and trust and transparency in politics.