Italian Prime Minister Meloni: The American Operation in Venezuela is Legitimate and Defensive

In the first official reaction from a European capital, the Italian government issued a statement on Saturday from Palazzo Chigi, outlining Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's position on the swift military operation carried out by the United States early Saturday in Venezuela.

These statements come after US President Donald Trump announced the success of his forces in "capturing" Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, a move that shook the foundations of global diplomacy.

The Italian statement clarified that Meloni has been following the Venezuelan scene "from its first moments," remaining in constant contact with her Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.

Rome's primary concern in these critical hours is ensuring the safety of the large Italian community residing there, which exceeds 160,000 citizens, giving Italy a direct interest in stabilizing the field situation.

The government reiterated its historical support for the Venezuelan people's aspirations toward a genuine "democratic transition," renewing its condemnation of the repressive actions pursued by the Maduro regime, whose recent election results Rome and most Western capitals refused to recognize.

In a balanced diplomatic reading, the Palazzo Chigi statement emphasized that external military force "is not the optimal path" for overthrowing authoritarian regimes, in an implicit reference to fears of the consequences of direct intervention.

Nevertheless, Meloni granted legitimacy to the operation from another angle, considering that intervention is "legitimate" when it comes to defending against "hybrid attacks" that affect national security.

The statement specifically mentioned entities affiliated with states that sponsor "drug trafficking," which completely aligns with Washington's accusations against the Maduro regime for managing what is known as the "Cartel de los Soles."

This Italian stance comes amid sharp global division; while Trump celebrates what he described as "cleansing" from drug terrorism, Russia, China, and Iran rushed to condemn the operation as a blatant "aggression" on sovereignty.

In contrast, neighboring countries like Colombia express deep concern over waves of human displacement that may follow this political earthquake.

Until now, no independent confirmations have been issued from within "Caracas" regarding Maduro's whereabouts, opening the door to all possibilities.

Rome's statements reflect an attempt to strike a middle ground; it supports Maduro's political departure, but fears the absence of international cover for snatch operations.

The lingering question remains: Will this operation lead to the desired democratic stability, or will it plunge Latin America into a new tunnel of major conflicts between the American and Russian poles?