MPs will return early from their Christmas break to debate the US attack on Venezuela and possible consequences for the three Dutch Caribbean islands off its coast.

ChristenUnie MP Don Ceder had called for the debate and managed to gather enough support for a recall, with the debate scheduled to take place on Thursday at 5pm. The winter recess runs until January 12.

So far the caretaker Dutch cabinet has not condemned the American action, although foreign affairs minister David van Weel has signed up to the EU declaration which calls for respect for international law.

Several party leaders have been more explicit, with Rob Jetten, who is likely to be the next prime minister, saying the US action infringes international law and sets a precedent which carries major risks for the rest of the world.

GroenLinks–PvdA leader Jesse Klaver also described the US action as setting a “dangerous precedent”.

Dutch commentators and media outlets have also been more critical than the government. Financieele Dagblad and BNR radio commentator Bernard Hammelburg described the US action in Venezuela as “contempt for international law”.

“In the recent national security strategy, the Trump administration confirmed what we have long known: Washington looks on Europe with disdain,” he writes.

“It is therefore an illusion to think that Donald Trump cares in the slightest about European criticism of the invasion of Venezuela and the arrest of Nicolás Maduro. A violation of international law? He could not care less.”

The Volkskrant said in an editorial that the “imperialist invasion” of Venezuela cannot be justified in international law. “President Trump’s illegal military action sets a dangerous precedent in an increasingly unstable world,” the paper said.

The NRC takes a similar line. Trump’s message, the paper states, is clear. “If you want something, take it, by force if necessary.”

Bad start

“Russia and China reacted angrily to the American action against their ally Venezuela, but the underlying imperialist logic will sound familiar to these countries and may even inspire them to push ahead themselves, for example in Ukraine or Taiwan,” the paper said. “Geopolitically, this was a very bad start to the new year.”

The initial reaction of the EU was muted and that is understandable given the speed with which Trump has been abandoning the old world order, the paper said.

“But silence is not an option. One can only hope that European leaders will respond swiftly, not only professing support for the international legal order in words, but backing it up with deeds. The United Nations, which is making strenuous efforts to keep multilateralism alive, deserves all the support Europeans can give.”