Fresh data from a January survey by the Centre for Sociological Research (CIS) reveals that Spanish society is highly skeptical of US military intervention in Venezuela. Only 13.6% of respondents believe Donald Trump acted correctly by ordering the capture of Nicolás Maduro and his wife. Half of those surveyed hold the opposite view, while nearly a third struggled with a definitive assessment, acknowledging the complexity of the situation.
However, the disagreements don’t end there. Over 61% of Spaniards are convinced that Washington’s actions have put global stability at risk. Only a third see no threat to peace in the operation. The survey was conducted shortly after a high-profile incident in which US forces detained the Venezuelan president and his wife, bringing them to New York to face charges of corruption and drug trafficking.
Public response
The Spanish public did not remain indifferent. Nearly half of respondents admitted the news made them anxious. One in five felt joy, and about the same proportion experienced fear. Seventeen percent reported feeling confused, while 7% said they were unaffected by the events.
Interestingly, the level of awareness about the situation in Venezuela proved quite high: almost 63% of respondents are confident they are well-informed about what is happening. However, a third admitted to knowing little or almost nothing about the events, despite the extensive coverage by the media.
International law
A particular source of outrage was the question of the legitimacy of US actions. Seven out of ten Spaniards believe that the detention of Maduro and his wife violated international law and contradicted the UN Charter. This view is shared across various age and social groups, indicating deep rejection of such methods for resolving international conflicts.
However, not everyone is so categorical. Around 30% of respondents did not see US actions as a violation of international norms. Yet even among them, many think such measures could have dangerous consequences for global politics.
Europe’s Response
The assessment of the European Union’s reaction proved no less controversial. Nearly half of Spaniards believe that Brussels responded to events in Venezuela with insufficient resolve, or even poorly. Only 29% approved of the EU’s position, calling it adequate or very good.
This distribution of opinions shows that Spanish society expects clearer and more independent positions from European institutions on international security issues. Many Spaniards seem disappointed by the passivity of European leaders and their inability to influence global developments.
Public Sentiment
Overall, the survey results reveal deep skepticism among Spaniards toward military solutions to international crises. Most citizens do not believe that the use of force leads to justice or stability. On the contrary, such actions raise concerns for the future of peace and undermine trust in international institutions.
Spanish society appears to be weary of foreign policy adventures and demands respect for international law. The question of the legitimacy of military intervention remains open, but one thing is clear: Spaniards are not willing to accept violations of global rules for short-term political gains.
