Twenty-six EU member states late Sunday called for calm and restraint, urging respect for international law after recent US military action in Venezuela. PM Orbán remained alone once again by not signing the statement.
Only PM Orbán did not sign the key EU document
“The European Union calls for calm and restraint by all actors, to avoid escalation and to ensure a peaceful solution to the crisis. The EU recalls that, under all circumstances, the principles of international law and the UN Charter must be upheld,” read a joint statement issued by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
Based on Anadolu News Agency, the statement, supported by 26 member states with the exception of Hungary’s Orbán, recalled UN Security Council members’ “particular responsibility” to uphold the principles of international law “as a pillar of the international security architecture.” Even Orbán’s allies from the Central European region, Slovakia’s PM Robert Fico and the Czech Republic’s PM Andrej Babiš accepted the paper.
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“The EU has repeatedly stated that (Venezuela’s captured President) Nicolas Maduro lacks the legitimacy of a democratically elected president and has advocated for a Venezuelan-led peaceful transition to democracy in the country, respectful of its sovereignty. The right of the Venezuelan people to determine their future must be respected,” the statement noted.
It stressed the need to address and combat “transnational organised crime and drug trafficking” through sustained cooperation, “in full respect of international law and the principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty.”
Photo: Orbán Viktor / Facebook
The EU wants democratic, inclusive, and peaceful solution
“We are in close contact with the United States, as well as regional and international partners to support and facilitate dialogue with all parties involved, leading to a negotiated, democratic, inclusive, and peaceful solution to the crisis, led by Venezuelans,” the statement underscored.
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It also urged respect for the Venezuelan people’s will to “restore democracy and resolve the current crisis.”
“All political prisoners currently detained in Venezuela must be unconditionally released. EU Member States’ consular authorities are working in close coordination in order to protect the safety of EU citizens, including those illegally detained in Venezuela,” it added.
Maduro in New York, his deputy may play key role
The statement came after President Donald Trump said US military action on Venezuela resulted in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, also pledging to assert American control over the country for the time being, with US troops if necessary.
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Maduro and Flores landed in New York late Saturday and are being held at a detention center in Brooklyn. They face US federal charges tied to drug trafficking and alleged cooperation with gangs designated as terrorist organizations.
Maduro has denied the accusations, and officials in Venezuela’s capital Caracas have called for the couple’s release.
Once upon a time, there was a man who pissed in a well-known well where the people used to drink from.
They asked him why did you do that??? he said: to be remarked and remembered that I was the one who peed in the well!!
“The EU wants democratic, inclusive, and peaceful solution”
What empty, meaningless words. This personifies the E.U.: vapid, trite, vacuous, banal, pathetically irrelevant… Laughable and pitiable, in equal measure.
This thing has no future. Orban is 100% right to not want to have anything to do with it.
YES, 100%!!!
The one and only leader in the EU- the rest are clowns- imagine march to war with Russia at the same time they cozy up with the CCP when there main supplier of energy is Russia. Good-bye to german auto biz. The CCP doesnt follow any of laws of the west- if they want to copy anything from toothpicks to the most sophisticated tech-you poor fools
The leaders of 26 European countries are all clowns? Meloni, Fico and Babis too, I assume? They have to be, you’ve called all of them clowns without exception.
As for the German automative industry you’re clearly not an industry watcher. The new Mercedes CLA is the best electric car on the market and is selling like hotcakes. Made in Germany. Another European success is the Renault 5. A multi-award winner with a waiting list. Made in France. If you really think the German automotive industry is toast then Hungary is done for too as it’s economy is massively dependent on the German car giants.
As for cosying up to the CCP I see only one European champion in that domain.
Everything coming out of Russia is shit. From ideology to products. Nobody wants it.
No matter what your view is on Trump seizing Maduro, or on any issue, Hungary practices Realpolitik.
To those who believe in idealogy before blood, ‘Les Internationalistes’, Orbán Viktor’s position makes no sense – but, for those who believe in Nationalism, one’s own people above all, his Russian policy is the same as his American policy, which is the same as his Israeli policy – he stands by those who will help Hungary.
Orbán Viktor understands what friendship is, because he understands what life is.
I am not quite sure what youre arguing here. Other than that “friendship” is a tool?
Realpolitik in international politics treats relationships between states as tools for advancing interests. Alliances are formed and broken based on security, power, resources, or strategic advantage.
A state may call another a “friend” while undercutting it in trade, spying on it or abandoning it when the cost of support gets too high. The “friendship” lasts only as long as interests overlap. When they diverge, “friendship” gives way to cold calculation.
Maybe do a quick analysis re Realpolitik, Russian and “friends” Syria, Iran and Venezuela. I would personally choose NATO and the EU, any day of the week.
“I am not quite sure what you’re arguing here. Other than that “friendship” is a tool?
If you have a friend, Dear Norbert, or a friend that is a benefactor, you demonstrate your gratitude for who they are to you by standing by them.
You stand by them, whether they are right or wrong.
This is what friendship is, and if it is not that, then I would not give you a penny for it.
Same thing with your people – you stand by your people, right or wrong.
Why?
Because they are your family.
This is why, even though your prime minister may have criticisms about what our president just did in Venezuela, he will not only NOT give voice to them, he will attempt to censor those who are critical.
Hungary is very likely to receive a large financial gift from our country, just as Argentina recently did.
You have been receiving financial gifts from Russia and China already.
This is how your prime minister makes friendship and diplomacy such a valuable asset for your people.
This is how Hungary is a small and weak country that punches way over it’s weight – just as do Switzerland and Israel.
On my planet, healthy friendships and alliances, whether personal, business or diplomatic, are strongest when they are based on mutual respect, honesty, and shared values.
From my friends and allies, I demand constructive criticism, transparency, and ethical standards. They are essential for long-term trust and cooperation.
If I apply this to politics and diplomacy, I would advocate for a balance of national interests with moral responsibility. More sustainable and respected internationally – hence probably the position of ALL the other EU Members.
Oh – why do you think Hungary receives “gifts” – disbursed by our Politicians?
https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2024/index/hun
Merry Christmas btw – must be very cold, where you are!
Fidesz never passes up an opportunity to embarrass Hungarians wherever they may be in this world.
The Maduro situation demonstrates that the EU calling Maduro illegitimate was just as empty as this statement about respecting international law. The world opposed Maduro’s illegitimate communist takeover but only got really upset because Trump had the balls to end it.
The commies that lament it was about oil were just fine with Russia, China, Iran and other commies stealing Venezuelan oil as the people suffered. Now, there will be free elections and a restoration of a petro-capitalist economy that was destroyed by the lure of communism masked as “social justice”.