By: Gašper Blažič
The Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, together with its EU partners, is monitoring the situation in Venezuela. They are calling for de‑escalation and respect for international law, the ministry told the STA yesterday. In short, a reserved position that largely aligns with that of the European Union.
But when we turn to the positions of the two most influential political figures in Slovenia, President Nataša Pirc Musar and Prime Minister Robert Golob, this restraint disappears. Let’s take a look.
“Repeated violations of the fundamental principles of international law, where one state intervenes in another simply because it can, is not and cannot be acceptable, even when it concerns states with authoritarian leadership, which Slovenia in the case of Venezuela does not recognise,” President Pirc Musar wrote on X, adding that an immediate calming of the situation is necessary. “Slovenia, together with the EU, must remain committed to a peaceful, democratic path and above all to the protection of the civilian population, not to supporting armed conflicts that would ignite new wars,” she added.
Golob was even sharper. “Any military intervention against a sovereign state that is not based on the principles of international law and the UN Charter is unacceptable and leads the world into a further spiral of wars and violence,” he said. “We do not want a new war. We do not want civilian casualties and the suffering of innocent people. In the EU we will remain firmly committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes, de‑escalation, and a peaceful and democratic path for Venezuela,” he added in a statement sent to the STA by the prime minister’s office.
It is interesting how both of them invoke the UN Charter, which in this case is merely a “paper tiger.” The UN has never responded adequately to human‑rights violations in Venezuela, not to the rigged elections two years ago, not to the persecution of the opposition, nor to the erosion of the rule of law. As Maduro’s regime raged, UN leaders looked the other way.
And finally, for comparison: just like Pirc Musar and Golob, North Korea also sharply condemned the U.S. action, calling it an abduction, a serious violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty, and “a ruthless breach of the UN Charter and international law.” Similar reactions came from other regimes of the “axis of evil,” such as the governments of Iran, Russia, Cuba…
In other words: the empty rhetoric that Golob and Pirc Musar are feeding the public regarding Venezuela effectively places Slovenia among the countries on the wrong side of history. The only difference is that Slovenia, because of the EU’s position, does not recognise the results of the 2024 Venezuelan elections. But if Slovenia were not an EU member, the left‑wing government would recognise them as well. In short, a disgrace without precedent, much like the parrot‑like repetition of Hamas propaganda about genocide.