Strategic Autonomy or Subservience? The EU’s Fractured Response to Caracas
Brussels, Belgium – January 3, 2026
Strategic Autonomy or Subservience? The EU’s Fractured Response to Caracas: Calls for “Maximum Restraint” Amidst U.S. Unilateralism.
The European Union has responded to the U.S. capture of Nicolás Maduro with a mix of paralyzed silence and carefully worded calls for “restraint,” revealing deep internal divisions regarding the bloc’s relationship with a resurgent and unilateralist Washington.
While the High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, expressed “deep concern” over the military escalation, the lack of a unified European stance has once again raised questions about the EU’s ability to act as a cohesive geopolitical player when faced with a “fait accompli” by its primary ally.
The Borrell “Restraint” Doctrine
In a statement issued from the Berlaymont building on Saturday afternoon, the European Commission urged all parties to “avoid a further escalation of violence.”
The EU’s political strategy appears to be one of cautious observation, refusing to immediately endorse the U.S.-led “direct administration” while simultaneously avoiding a direct confrontation with the Trump administration.
This “wait-and-see” approach is driven by a fear that an outright condemnation would jeopardize trans-Atlantic trade, while a full endorsement would violate the EU’s stated commitment to a “rules-based international order.”
Behind closed doors, the friction is more apparent. France and Spain, both with significant historic and economic ties to Latin America, are reportedly furious that Washington provided no advance warning of the strikes.
Madrid, in particular, has warned that the “Panama-style” intervention could trigger a refugee crisis that would ultimately impact European borders.
Conversely, several Eastern European member states have quietly welcomed the move, viewing the removal of a Russian-aligned dictator as a necessary blow to the Moscow-Tehran axis.
Economic Interests vs. Democratic Values
The political debate in Brussels is further complicated by European energy interests. With the U.S. inviting American oil giants to “run” the Venezuelan energy sector, European firms like Spain’s Repsol and Italy’s Eni find themselves in a precarious position.
If the U.S. continues to administer Venezuela directly, there is no guarantee that existing European contracts will be honored.
This has led to a growing movement within the European Parliament calling for “Strategic Autonomy.” Prominent MEPs have argued that the U.S. action in Venezuela is the ultimate proof that Europe can no longer rely on a predictable American partner.
The political fallout from the Caracas raid may ironically be the catalyst that pushes the EU toward creating its own independent military and diplomatic capabilities, as it seeks to protect its interests from an increasingly assertive Washington.
