Protests Erupt in Madrid Over US Actions in Venezuela
On Sunday, a group of far-left activists gathered outside the U.S. Embassy in Madrid, expressing opposition to what they described as the Trump administration’s “imperialist” actions leading to the capture of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. This protest followed a pre-dawn U.S. military operation that detained Maduro and his wife in Caracas, later transporting them to New York on accusations of narco-terrorism.
Chanting slogans like “Go away, criminal gringos!” and “We don’t want to be an American colony!”, demonstrators voiced their concerns against U.S. intervention. A local news outlet reported on the scene.
Alicia, a 75-year-old protester, spoke about her reasons for attending, saying, “I came to the demonstration because I am against what the country is doing in Venezuela and elsewhere.” Another protester, José Martín Segovia, added, “We cannot tolerate a government that tries to ignore international norms.”
Interestingly, these protests were in stark contrast to a much larger gathering in Madrid the day before, consisting primarily of Venezuelans who had fled their country due to Maduro’s regime. Ana Maria Machado, a participant in that rally with about 2,500 people, expressed her delight at Maduro’s ouster and reflected on her own experience, stating, “I came to Spain because I could not bear to breathe the same air as Chavezmo.” She also hinted at the fear that still looms over families left behind in Venezuela.
As the protests unfolded, Spain’s socialist government faced criticism for its ties with individuals from Maduro’s administration. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez condemned the U.S. actions in a letter, highlighting what he perceived as violations of international law. Despite not recognizing Maduro’s government, this stance places Spain among the most vocal opponents of the U.S. operation in Europe.
Other European leaders, like British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, are also feeling the heat to respond to the military operation. When asked whether the forced removal of socialist leaders aligns with international law, a clear answer was avoided.
