The capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces marks a dramatic shift in Latin American geopolitics, with reverberations in the Balkans as governments weigh their foreign policy alignments.
Under incumbent President Donald Trump, the U.S. reportedly carried out a precision operation in Venezuela, seizing Maduro and his wife and flying them out of the country. Trump hailed the mission as a decisive strike against “one of the world’s most dangerous dictators,” announcing that the United States would temporarily oversee governance in Venezuela and restore its oil production while preparing for a political transition.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio framed Maduro as the head of a narco-terror network, emphasizing the operation as a message to the world that Washington will act decisively against regimes involved in organized crime and drug trafficking.
Serbia: Strategic recalibration
Serbia, historically the Balkans’ most engaged partner with Maduro’s government, now faces a delicate recalibration. Belgrade has cultivated ties with Caracas partly due to mutual support on territorial integrity issues such as Kosovo. With Maduro removed, Serbia must consider how to maintain relations with any successor authority while balancing its EU accession ambitions and alignment with Western powers.
Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina have long aligned with the EU and U.S. in questioning Maduro’s legitimacy. These governments broadly welcome the capture as a step toward accountability and democratic restoration in Venezuela, while stressing adherence to international law. Kosovo, which has no diplomatic relations with Venezuela, maintains a firm Western-aligned stance.
Croatia, Slovenia, Romania, Bulgaria, and Greece, while critical of Maduro, have expressed caution over Washington’s direct intervention. Brussels has highlighted the importance of respecting international norms even as it continues to critique Maduro’s rule.
Regional implications
The Balkan pattern largely reflects previous alignments: EU-aligned states approve Maduro’s removal, Serbia must navigate a sudden shift in Caracas, and Kosovo’s position is unchanged. Analysts note the Trump administration’s assertive posture could pressure Balkan governments to adjust their policies quickly, highlighting the tension between strategic pragmatism and adherence to international law.
The capture of Maduro under Trump’s presidency has injected uncertainty into long-standing diplomatic ties, particularly for states like Serbia, and may influence how Balkan governments respond to sudden U.S. interventions in the future. (BV)