The Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Germany’s largest opposition party, is adopting a cautious stance on the recent attempt to detain Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, signaling a strategic prioritization of transatlantic alignment over immediate condemnation of US actions. Jürgen Hardt, the CDU’s spokesperson for foreign affairs, has refrained from openly criticizing President Donald Trump’s involvement, citing the ongoing critical negotiations surrounding Ukraine aid and broader geopolitical strategy.
Hardt’s remarks, delivered to RTL and ntv on Monday, acknowledged the controversial nature of the operation – explicitly stating that the seizure of a foreign leader on foreign soil was not compliant with international law. However, he simultaneously attempted to contextualize the situation, minimizing the potential for friction with Washington. He characterized Maduro as a “dictator” who has twice secured leadership positions through “falsified elections” a tacit recognition of the regime’s illegitimacy.
The deliberate restraint, however, underscores a broader calculation within the CDU regarding Germany’s relationship with the United States. Hardt emphasized that maintaining US support for Ukraine, particularly amidst fragile peace negotiations, takes precedence over immediate and potentially destabilizing criticism of Trump’s actions in Venezuela. “If I can achieve this with US President Trump – then that can be astute policy” he stated, employing the idiom “the mass has been sung” to suggest the trajectory of the Ukraine situation is largely predetermined.
This circumspect approach reveals a calculated political gamble: prioritizing short-term strategic alignment with Washington, even at the cost of appearing to condone potentially unlawful actions, to safeguard the continuation of crucial US support for Ukraine. Critics are likely to argue that this position compromises Germany’s commitment to international law and moral condemnation of authoritarianism, effectively prioritizing geopolitical expediency over principles of sovereignty and human rights. The move highlights the complex and often conflicting pressures faced by German policymakers navigating a volatile international landscape, particularly as they attempt to balance transatlantic partnerships with adherence to established legal frameworks. The long-term implications of this strategic deference remain to be seen, particularly as it potentially weakens international norms and emboldens unilateral action.