SDP says government lacks clear stance on situation in Venezuela

Croatia's opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP) reacted on Sunday to the US military intervention in Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro a day earlier, warning that the boundaries of international law and diplomatic norms are being dangerously pushed.

In a statement, the left-leaning party said that violence and military intervention are increasingly being downplayed or justified by major powers as so-called benevolent actions, while fundamental principles of international law and the UN Charter are ignored. In the case of Venezuela, the SDP asked who has the authority to decide what constitutes such "benevolence," and on what legal basis.

The party warned that although US President Donald Trump publicly advocates peace and democracy, it is legitimate to question whether the true motives behind the intervention are tied to control over resources-primarily oil-and the expansion of political and economic influence, regardless of the consequences. The SDP also expressed concern over statements by figures close to Trump regarding American ambitions toward Greenland, arguing that this signals a dangerous mindset in which state sovereignty becomes subject to the will of stronger powers rather than international law.

Of particular concern, the SDP said, is what it described as the lack of a clear and principled stance from the Croatian government. The party noted that the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs appeared to justify the US intervention by pointing to the lack of democratic legitimacy of Venezuela's government.

They further argued that claims the United States acts solely in the name of democracy are inconsistent. If the absence of free elections were truly the standard, the SDP asked, why does Washington continue to cooperate with numerous authoritarian regimes, while invoking democracy selectively in line with geopolitical interests?

In conclusion, the SDP said Croatia must adopt a clear, sovereign and principled position. Respect for international law, multilateralism and democratic procedures must not be selective or subordinate to the interests of great powers. Turning a blind eye to violence today, the party warned, risks accepting even greater violence tomorrow.