Paris, January 03 (QNA) - French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday called for a peaceful and democratic transition of power in Venezuela, stressing that the upcoming transition must respect the will of the Venezuelan people.

In a post on X, Macron said: "The upcoming transition must be peaceful and democratic, and we hope that President Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, elected in 2024, can ensure this transition as swiftly as possible".

Macron further emphasized that the upcoming transitional phase should receive the full support of the international community, expressing his ongoing communication with France’s regional partners to ensure stability, particularly the safety of its nationals during this sensitive period.

At dawn today, Venezuela witnessed an unprecedented military escalation after the United Stated conducted a large-scale aerial operation that targeted military sites and key installations in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, and in the surrounding states of Miranda and Aragua, including major facilities such as Fuerte Tiuna, the largest army base, and the La Carlota military airbase near Caracas.

The operation came amid escalating tensions and a US military buildup in the Caribbean region, accompanied by the imposition of naval restrictions under the pretext of combating drug trafficking and exerting pressure on the Venezuelan government.

The operation led to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, and their transfer to US territory to face charges related to drug trafficking, sparking a wave of mixed international and United Nations responses to the recent developments. (QNA)