Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Díaz has issued one of Europe’s strongest condemnations of the United States military operation, characterizing it as part of an “international hate movement” acting with impunity. Her statement following Saturday’s strikes that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro reflects progressive concerns about rising authoritarianism and unilateralism.
Díaz’s characterization connects the Venezuelan intervention to broader trends she sees in global politics, including the rise of far-right nationalism and disregard for international institutions. Her warning that the world has become “less safe and less free” since these movements began acting with impunity articulates progressive anxieties about democratic backsliding.
The deputy prime minister’s rhetoric represents a more forceful stance than that taken by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, reflecting political tensions within Spain’s coalition government. Her emphasis on Spain standing “always on the side of international law and peace” positions the government’s progressive wing clearly against American military intervention.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi has announced that Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores will face drug trafficking charges in New York, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirming the charges relate to narcotics operations. President Trump stated the couple is currently aboard a ship being transported to the United States for prosecution.
The international response has divided along ideological lines, with progressive leaders warning of dangerous global trends while right-wing governments offered support. UN Secretary General António Guterres warned of dangerous precedents, while Colombia mobilized its armed forces in anticipation of refugee flows.