The European Commission has warned that "the next steps towards a democratic transition in Venezuela must include Edmundo González and María Corina Machado," as specified by the EU spokesperson Anitta Hipper. "Any solution must respect international law and the United Nations Charter," reiterated the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.
Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado and the President of the Democratic Unity Roundtable Edmundo González, the virtual winner of the 2024 presidential elections, have received strong support from European institutions in the past two years. Both were awarded the Sakharov Prize by the European Parliament.
The European Union's request directly contradicts the warning issued over the weekend by Donald Trump, who stated that María Corina Machado "does not have the support or respect of the country" and that it would be "very tough for her" to become a leader.
The response to the American intervention to overthrow Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela has caused a rift among European allies and looms over the summit of the 'Volunteer Coalition' to aid Ukraine, held on Epiphany at the Élysée Palace. French President Emmanuel Macron, heavily criticized by the left in his country for his leniency towards Donald Trump, was forced to toughen his stance on Monday and clarify that France "does not support or approve of the method used."
Meanwhile, France extended its solidarity to Denmark amid Donald Trump's renewed threats to annex Greenland. "There can be no modification of borders by force," warned French Foreign Affairs spokesperson Pascal Confavreux.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Fredetiksen urged the United States to "stop its threats," and Greenland's Prime Minister, Jens Frederik Nielsen, emphasized after the military operation in Venezuela: "We have had enough for now... No more pressure. No more insinuations. No more fantasies of annexation."
The specter of potential American intervention in Greenland will undoubtedly be present at the 'Volunteer Coalition' meeting, which reconvenes in Paris on Tuesday amidst a critical situation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met on Monday as a prelude with the Chiefs of Staff of France, the United Kingdom, and Germany.
President Macron anticipates that he hopes the Epiphany meeting will lead the 35 countries in the coalition to make "concrete commitments" for Ukraine's security, with added uncertainty about the future of the Trump Administration's peace plan following its military operation in Venezuela, strongly criticized by Moscow.