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French President Emmanuel Macron celebrated the fall of Nicolás Maduro's dictatorship and called for a peaceful transition led by Edmundo González.
"The Venezuelan people are now free from the dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro and can only rejoice. By taking power and trampling on fundamental freedoms, Nicolás Maduro has severely undermined the dignity of his own people," said Macron on X.
Macron, who stated he is in talks with his partners in the region, called for a "democratic transition that respects the will of the Venezuelan people."
"We hope that President Edmundo González Urrutia, elected in 2024, can ensure this transition as soon as possible," he added
"France is fully mobilized and vigilant, especially to ensure the safety of its citizens in these times of uncertainty," he concluded.
Pedro Sánchez will not recognize an intervention
The President of the Spanish government, Pedro Sánchez, stated this Saturday that “Spain will not recognize any intervention” by the U.S. in Venezuela.
“Spain did not recognize Maduro's regime. But it will also not recognize an intervention that violates international law and pushes the region toward a horizon of uncertainty and militarism,” he said on X.
"We ask all actors to think of the civilian population, to respect the United Nations Charter, and to facilitate a fair and negotiated transition," he added.
Before, Sánchez had called for "de-escalation and responsibility. International Law and the principles of the United Nations Charter must be respected, and these should facilitate a fair and dialogue-based transition."
The U.S. will control Venezuela, according to Trump
Starting this Saturday, Donald Trump has once again shaken up the Latin American political landscape with a statement that is already provoking reactions both inside and outside of Venezuela.
The U.S. president asserted that his administration will control Venezuela and its oil revenues following the capture of Nicolás Maduro, and that Delcy Rodríguez will lead a transitional government under conditions set by Washington.
From his residence in Mar-a-Lago, Trump stated that the United States will take control of the country "until there is a fair democratic transition," arguing that Venezuela's infrastructure is "rotten" and that the oil will be managed to benefit the population, but also to compensate the U.S. for past expropriations.
"We are going to lead this country properly and we are going to ensure that the people of Venezuela are taken care of," said Trump, who did not rule out new military actions if sectors of chavismo attempt to regain control of the country.
One of the most controversial elements of his statements was the direct mention of the Venezuelan vice president. According to Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in talks with Delcy Rodríguez, whom he described as willing to “do what we believe needs to be done to make Venezuela great again,” even using the phrase Make Venezuela Great Again.
Trump asserted that Rodríguez would take on the leadership of a transitional government, while the United States would be responsible for ensuring security and managing strategic resources, especially oil. “We will extract a lot of money to take care of the country,” he stated, without specifying timelines or mechanisms.
The U.S. president described the capture of Maduro as “one of the best-planned coups since World War II” and affirmed that the Chavista leader was arrested alongside his wife, Cilia Flores, and transferred to U.S. territory to face charges of drug trafficking and organized crime. He also mentioned Diosdado Cabello as another leader who will have to answer to justice.
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