After the overthrow of Maduro by the US: Spain sees improvement and wants sanctions to be lifted

Spain will ask the European Union to lift sanctions against Venezuelan acting president Delcy Rodriguez to send a signal that the situation in this South American country is changing for the better, Spanish foreign minister Jose Manuel Albares said on Friday.

Last month, the Spanish authorities signaled the submission of a similar request after assessing the direction Venezuela would take after the overthrow of President Nicolas Maduro by the US in early January this year.

– Sanctions are never an end in themselves, but a means to establish a broad, peaceful and democratic dialogue in Venezuela, Albares said, quoted by Cadena SER radio.

Delcy Rodríguez, who serves as head of state after Maduro's capture by the US military, has been on the EU's sanctions list since 2018, including without the possibility of entering the territory of the Community. The exception was her visit to Brussels in 2023 for the EU summit with Latin American and Caribbean countries.

On Friday, Albares positively assessed the law on amnesty for political prisoners, which the Venezuelan parliament adopted unanimously on Thursday. The document was immediately signed by Delcy Rodriguez.

Among European countries, Spain is particularly interested in events in Latin America, including: for historical, cultural or economic reasons. The Spanish company Repsol participates in oil and gas projects in Venezuela.

The EU also recognizes the special role of Spain in the Community's relations with this region.

The government in Madrid criticized the US actions that resulted in the overthrow of Nicolas Maduro in early January this year. Albares then spoke about a “dangerous precedent” and violation of international law.

From Madrid Marcin Furdyna (PAP)

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