US intervention in Venezuela: Israel praises it, Turkey calls for moderation. Italy qualifies it as “legitimate”, France sees it as a violation of international law

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Saturday welcomed the US military operation in Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolas Maduro, saying it ends his “illegal tyranny”.

“Israel commends the operation of the United States, led by President Trump, who acted as the leader of the free world. At this historic moment, Israel stands in solidarity with the freedom-loving Venezuelan people who have suffered under the illegal tyranny of Maduro,” Saar wrote in a message published on the X network.

This is the first official reaction of the government led by Benjamin Netanyahu after the bombings launched by the American army and after the confirmation by President Donald Trump of the capture of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, write EFE and Agerpres.

Turkey offers to help solve the crisis

For its part, the Turkish government expressed its readiness to contribute to solving the crisis generated by the American military intervention. The Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Ankara attaches “great importance to the stability of Venezuela, as well as the peace and well-being of the Venezuelan people”, stating that it closely follows the developments in the country after the bombings ordered by the US president.

“We urge all parties to act with moderation so that the current situation does not have negative consequences on regional and international security,” the statement reads, in which Turkey expresses its readiness to offer “all the necessary constructive contributions” to resolve the crisis “within international law.”

Criticism of Erdogan

Domestically, the leader of Turkey's main opposition party, the Republican People's Party (Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi, CHP), Ozgur Ozel, criticized President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's “silence” regarding the events in Venezuela. He accused the double standard of the head of state, who in the past called Maduro “friend” and “brother”, and now he would not be able to condemn the American offensive and the removal of the Venezuelan leader from power.

Italy qualifies the US intervention as “legitimate”.

The Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, on Saturday appreciated as “legitimate” the military operation carried out by the United States in Venezuela, which he described as a “defensive intervention”, emphasizing at the same time that military force is not a solution for changing political regimes.

“In accordance with the historical position of Italy, the Government considers that external military action is not the way to end totalitarian regimes, but, at the same time, it appreciates as legitimate an intervention of a defensive nature against hybrid attacks on its own security, including in the case of state entities that feed and favor drug trafficking”, according to a press release from the Italian executive, according to EFE and Agerpres.

The government in Rome stated that Meloni is closely following developments in Venezuela after the attack launched by the US, which led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Italy reiterated its support for the aspiration of the Venezuelan people for a democratic transition and condemned the repressive actions of the Maduro regime, whose self-proclaimed electoral victory in July 2024 was not recognized by Rome, along with the main international actors.

Meloni pays special attention to the Italian community in Venezuela, estimated at approximately 160,000 people, most of whom have dual citizenship, stressing that their safety is an absolute priority.

France condemns the American operation

In contrast, France strongly criticized the American operation. The capture of President Nicolas Maduro by American forces contravenes the principle of non-recourse to force, on which international law is based, said the French Foreign Minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, warning that “no lasting political solution can be imposed from the outside”, reports AFP.

“By confiscating power and depriving the Venezuelan people of their fundamental freedoms, Nicolas Maduro has seriously undermined dignity and the right to self-determination,” Barrot wrote on the X platform, adding, however, that this does not justify the violation of international law. He warned that the multiplication of such violations by permanent member states of the UN Security Council could have “serious consequences for world security”.

French President Emmanuel Macron “is closely following the situation in Venezuela and is discussing with regional partners”, indicated sources from the Elysee Palace, quoted by AFP. Paris also recalled its previous involvement in mediation efforts and reiterated its support for the sovereignty of the Venezuelan people.

***

US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that US forces had captured Nicolas Maduro in a “large-scale operation”. According to the American authorities, he would be tried in the USA for charges related to drug trafficking and terrorism.