Paris – French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot stated on January 3, 2026, that the U.S. military operation resulting in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores "contravenes the principle of non-use of force that underpins international law." In a detailed post on X, Barrot balanced sharp criticism of Maduro's regime with firm opposition to external imposition of political solutions.
Barrot declared: "By seizing power from the Venezuelan people and depriving them of their fundamental freedoms, Nicolás Maduro inflicted a grave violation on their dignity and on their right to self-determination." He emphasized France's consistent commitment, including mediation efforts, to upholding "respect for the sovereignty of the Venezuelan people, whose voice must prevail."
However, Barrot stressed adherence to international norms: "The military operation that led to the capture of Nicolás Maduro contravenes the principle of non-use of force that underpins international law." He added, "France recalls that no lasting political solution can be imposed from the outside and that sovereign peoples alone decide their own future."
The minister warned of broader implications, noting that the "growing number of violations of this principle by nations entrusted with the primary responsibility of permanent UN Security Council membership will have serious consequences for global security, sparing no one." France, he said, is "preparing for this, but cannot bring itself to accept it," reiterating commitment to the UN Charter as the guide for state actions "always and everywhere."
This nuanced stance aligns with President Emmanuel Macron's earlier comments welcoming the end of Maduro's "dictatorship" while calling for a peaceful transition led by opposition figure Edmundo González Urrutia. France has long refused to recognize Maduro's legitimacy following disputed 2024 elections.
The statements follow the U.S. "Operation Absolute Resolve" on January 3, involving airstrikes on Caracas and the extraction of Maduro and Flores to New York, where they face narco-terrorism and drug-trafficking charges. President Donald Trump announced U.S. oversight of Venezuela during a transition, emphasizing American oil companies' role in infrastructure revival.
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, assuming interim duties per Supreme Court order, demanded "proof of life" and condemned the action as "illegal kidnapping." She asserted Maduro remains the legitimate leader.
Global reactions polarized: Russia, China, Cuba, Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia denounced violations of sovereignty; Argentina, El Salvador, and others welcomed Maduro's removal. The UN expressed alarm over precedents.
France's position underscores European preferences for multilateralism and rule-based order, even against regimes criticized for authoritarianism. As Maduro awaits arraignment, risks of instability, refugee flows, and energy shifts loom.
