ELAC Co-Director Janina Dill has given expert commentary on recent US actions in Venezuela. The article argues that the recent US military attack on Venezuela, including the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, is unambiguously illegal under international law. According to the commentary, the action violates Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, which prohibits the use of force against another state except in cases of self-defence or with explicit authorisation from the UN Security Council. The article explains that neither condition was met. Claims related to regime change, combating drug trafficking, or “liberating” the Venezuelan population do not provide a lawful basis for military intervention.
The piece stresses that the key issue now is not whether the attack was illegal—but how the international community responds. Dill warns that muted or ambiguous reactions from other states, particularly US allies, risk undermining the global legal order by weakening norms around sovereignty and the prohibition on the use of force. She states that failure to clearly condemn such actions could set a dangerous precedent, signalling that powerful states can disregard international law without consequence.
Additionally, Dill was interviewed by DW News on the legality of the actions by the US in Venezuela and whether the US is likely to face repercussions.
