Italian reactions

Venezuela, Meloni: 'No to force but legitimate defensive action'. Oppositions against attack

President of the Council, Giorgia Meloni, had a telephone conversation with Maria Corina Machado on the prospects for a peaceful and democratic transition in Venezuela

by Rome Editorial Staff

3 January 2026

La presidente del Consiglio, Giorgia Meloni

4' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Key points

Meloni follows situation in Venezuela, in contact with Tajani
Schlein hears Tajani: concern about what is happening
Conte: Meloni government condemns US attack on Venezuela
Vannacci provocation: will Europe now send arms to Venezuela?
Calenda: good overthrow of Maduro but worrying how it was done
Magi: Maduro dictator but Trump jeopardises international balance

4' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

"Consistent with Italy's historic position, the government believes that external military action is not the way forward to put an end to totalitarian regimes, but at the same time considers intervention of a defensive nature legitimate against hybrid attacks on its own security, as in the case of state entities that feed and favour drug trafficking". Thus a note from Palazzo Chigi after the US attack in Venezuela. A comment that came after Palazzo Chigi let it be known in the early afternoon that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was 'closely following the situation, keeping in constant contact with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, also in order to obtain information on our compatriots'.

Opposition to attack

The news of the US attack in Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolas Maduro has just spread, and the reactions of Italian politics have arrived. The first to intervene from the opposition were Nicola Fratoianni and Angelo Bonelli, leaders of the Left Green Alliance, calling for the Italian government's condemnation of the US attack in Venezuela, which they define as "extremely serious and unacceptable". Avs also calls for the immediate convening of foreign commissions, arguing that 'Trump is behaving like a global pirate who aims to build a global order based on force and in open violation of international law. This is how the world is sliding further and further towards a permanent state of war'.

Meloni follows situation in Venezuela, in contact with Tajani

Meanwhile, Palazzo Chigi let it be known that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni "is closely following the situation, keeping in constant contact with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, also in order to obtain information on our compatriots". And she adds: 'The government believes that external military action is not the way to put an end to totalitarian regimes, but at the same time considers intervention of a defensive nature legitimate against hybrid attacks on its own security, as in the case of state entities that feed and favour drug trafficking'.

Meloni hears Machado, without Maduro new page for Venezuela

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had a telephone conversation with Maria Corina Machado on the prospects for a peaceful and democratic transition in Venezuela. This was stated in a note from Palazzo Chigi. During the phone call 'it was shared how Maduro's exit from the scene opens a new page of hope for the people of Venezuela, who will be able to return to enjoy the basic principles of democracy and the rule of law'.

Schlein hears Tajani: concern about what is happening

While Dem leader Elly Schlein after hearing Foreign Minister Tajani express concern, and called an extraordinary secretariat for the afternoon.

Other official stances of the Democratic Party were not slow in coming. "We call on the government to pronounce clear words and to work urgently in all multilateral and international fora for the full restoration and respect of international law and the primacy of diplomacy," stated Giuseppe Provenzano, head of foreign affairs in the national secretariat of the Democratic Party, in a note. "Never before have we had to recall and reaffirm our constitutional principles, starting with the repudiation of war as a means of resolving international disputes," the Democrat continued.

Conte: Meloni government condemns US attack on Venezuela

The M5S directly calls the government into question. "The American aggression against Venezuela has no legal basis," writes President Giuseppe Conte. The Meloni government condemns these attacks and protects our compatriots." "Nor can the illiberal nature of its government be valid in itself to justify the attack on a sovereign state. For us, international law only goes so far,' Conte added. The Movement has also written to the presidents of the House and Senate to request an urgent briefing by Tajani in Parliament.

Vannacci provocation: will Europe now send arms to Venezuela?

In the League, the provocations of Roberto Vannacci and Senator Claudio Borghi, both opposed to the new arms decree for Ukraine, stand out. "Now Von der Leyen will freeze the US financial assets in Europe and make a joint 90 billion debt to send arms to Venezuela? While Calenda will tattoo Maduro's face on his other wrist, Merz, Macron and Starmer will get together in a group of the willing to send troops to Caracas,' the MEP and deputy secretary of the League writes on Facebook.

The Leghist senator Claudio Borghi relaunches on X, commenting on a post he made on 16 November in which he said: 'But if by chance the US attacks Venezuela, what do we do? Do we send 12 packages of weapons to Maduro?". Commenting on these words today he says: 'This post was obviously a provocation. My intent was to expose the hypocrisies of morality with which many of the supporters of sending arms to Ukraine cloak military support (which is a legitimate political choice, not THE GOOD). I fear it will come back into fashion today'

Calenda: good overthrow of Maduro but worrying how it was done

Approving the overthrow of Maduro, Action Secretary Carlo Calenda, who however disagrees with the way it was done: 'Good news for the Venezuelan people plagued by a vicious dictatorship. The way in which it was done, however, gives cause for concern'.

Magi: Maduro dictator but Trump puts international balance at risk

"Maduro is a dictator who has been holding Venezuela hostage for more than a decade, impoverishing the country, arresting opponents, and fostering corruption,' says Più Europa secretary Riccardo Magi. 'But the attack with the armed forces in the heart of Caracas risks further unhinging the already fragile international balance. Even in this case, the absence of a strong European Union is felt - underlines Magi, who asks. to the Italian government we ask for maximum attention for the Italians and in particular for Alberto Trentini, whose release and repatriation must take place with the utmost urgency'.