A Venezuelan ex-soldier living in Spain has praised Donald Trump for removing dictator Nicolas Maduro from power.
Carlos, 34, who is not using his real name due to fear of reprisals against his family, told the Spanish Eye that he is ‘more than happy’ by the US’s military intervention – which has sparked a fierce backlash from parts of the international community, especially Spain.
Last weekend, US forces flew into the capital Caracas, bombed buildings and dragged Maduro and his wife out of bed and into custody, before transferring him to New York, where he will stand trial.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez blasted the move by Donald Trump’s administration as a ‘violation of international law’.
Among other reasons, Trump justified the operation by branding Maduro a narco-terrorist, accusing the state of sanctioning drug trafficking cartels that represent a national security and health threat to the US.
The move has divided opinion globally. Many Venezuelan expats around the world have been taking to the streets to celebrate the action – although some have organised protests, including across Andalucia.
Among the happy expats is Carlos, who was a military pilot when he fled Venezuela for Marbella almost 10 years ago, a few years after Maduro first took power.
He had personally met the former president Hugo Chavez when he was awarded a medal for his service by the leader.
After making it to Spain – and teaching himself English and French – he spent years sending money back to his brother, mother and wider family as inflation skyrocketed and left them struggling to survive.
‘I’m more than happy and I’m waiting for the next step to capture Delcy Rodríguez, Diosdado Cabello, Jorge Rodríguez and Vladimir Padrino: the work is not completed yet,’ Carlos told the Spanish Eye.
‘Venezuela has provided oil to Iran, China, Russia and Cuba for years and for nothing; Maduro did not win the elections in 2024 and the social, political, economic and humanitarian crisis is a huge problem for us…
‘Unfortunately no country has done anything for us and internally it is impossible to fight back… so yes, I applaud what Trump is doing and I’m looking forward to the next strike.’
Trump has since announced that the US ‘will run Venezuela’ until a ‘suitable’ replacement for Maduro is found.
Stepherson said he was not worried about the US raiding the country’s oil supplies – which are the largest on the planet.
He said: ‘In 2000, Chavez stole and expropriated the oil companies that operated in Venezuela, expropriated the energy companies too and if you go now and see how these industries are doing, it’s a shame…
‘Venezuela doesn’t count on the resources to operate these companies and make them profitable, so I’m not worried and I support that the only way is to have external investors from the US and remove Iran, China, Russia and Cuba.’
However, Carlos was clear on what he wants to happen in Venezuela next.
‘Edmundo Gonzales and Maria Machado won the election by more than eight million votes in 2024 and they have to take power,’ he said.
‘That’s not easy because Maduro and Chavez created a strong force of protectors in people from marginal places, providing them with more weapons than the army…
‘So what we need to happen first is to dismantle these armed groups, assign new leaders in the army, make the political prisoners free and for Edmundo to take power with Machado.’
He added: ‘For those saying we need to look for a pacifist way, it does not exist!’
