Club of Madrid expresses its profound concern over the serious escalation of events in Venezuela. We call for a de-escalation of military actions and urge the international community and multilateral institutions to act without delay to prevent further violence and instability and pursue a comprehensive solution, aligned with international law, the principles and spirit of the United Nations Charter and respectful of the rights, safety, and democratic aspirations of the Venezuelan people.
For years, Venezuela has endured a deepening political, economic, and humanitarian crisis rooted in the systematic erosion of democracy, the dismantling of state institutions, and persistent violations of human rights. Venezuelans have suffered profound hardship, repression, and insecurity, forcing millions to flee their homes and creating severe humanitarian consequences across the region, particularly for neighbouring Latin American countries. Those who have exercised power illegitimately—as underscored by the dubious electoral results of July 2024—must be held accountable for the damage inflicted on the country and its people. Such accountability, however, must be pursued strictly through international law and in full adherence to the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter.
We stress the urgent need to restore diplomatic channels and to prioritise dialogue as the only viable path towards a peaceful and sustainable resolution of the crisis. Further military actions taken outside established legal frameworks risk undermining international norms and weakening the primacy of peaceful, negotiated solutions that underpin the international system.
Multilateral institutions must assume their responsibility to provide legitimacy, oversight, and collective accountability, ensuring the protection of civilians, the investigation of alleged crimes, and the support of credible, internationally grounded pathways toward democratic transition.
The international community bears a shared responsibility to support a peaceful transition. We call on all actors—state and non-state alike—to exercise maximum restraint, actively promote de-escalation, and recommit to multilateral engagement. Any durable solution to Venezuela’s crisis, enabling Venezuela to re-engage with the world in full respect of its dignity, rights, and obligations must be Venezuelan-led, inclusive, and firmly rooted in respect for human rights, democratic principles, constitutional order, and the rule of law.