Name: Venezuelans in Spain divided over U.S. capture of Nicolas Maduro
Uploaded: 2026-01-05T09:47:13.938Z
Duration: 1 min 54 s
Description: Celebrations for some, fear and uncertainty for others. Mixed reactions for Venezuelans living in Spain after the capture of Nicolas Maduro.

Celebrations for some, fear and uncertainty for others. Mixed reactions for Venezuelans living in Spain after the capture of Nicolas Maduro.

Madrid

Demonstrations in Madrid followed the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, with Spanish left-wing protesters condemning the act as an overreach and warning of dangerous regional consequences. In contrast, many Venezuelans living in Spain celebrated the event, seeing it as a potential first step toward returning to their homeland and achieving political change.

Some Venezuelans expressed concern about U.S. involvement in managing Venezuela's oil resources, while opposition representatives acknowledged that full regime change remains distant but anticipated positive developments in the near future. Spain is home to nearly 400,000 Venezuelans, making it the largest Venezuelan community in Europe.

Venezuelans in Spain divided over U.S. capture of Nicolas Maduro

Fascists. Terrorists. Those are the accusations these protesters are levelling at the United States. Gathering in Madrid near the U.S. embassy, demonstrators condemned the U.S. capture of Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro as an unacceptable overstep. One that could have a dangerous ripple effect. A Latin American president has been kidnapped, and this is a precedent for other aggressions and invasions within the entire region. What they want is to exercise colonialism in the most shameless way over Venezuelans. But many here are Spanish left-wingers, not Venezuelans, who, a few hours later, took to the streets. In celebration, not protest. Spain is home to the largest Venezuelan community in Europe, with almost 400,000 people. Many hope to return one day, and believe that Maduro's capture is the first step towards that goal. I would love to go back to my country, back to my city, to resume my studies, because I was studying a medical degree and I want to serve my country. Others are opposed to the prospect of the United States managing its vast oil reserves. I don't see it as salvation. Venezuelan oil belongs to Venezuelans, and the land belongs to Venezuelans, not to the Americans. Representatives of Venezuela's opposition are also at the celebrations, and while they accept that Venezuela is a long way off from the wholesale regime change that they are demanding, they also say that the next few days and weeks will bring positive changes to their country. Camille Nedelec, Al Jazeera, Madrid.

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