Pedro Sánchez clings to Venezuela to raise his profile in the EU

BarcelonaDonald Trump's operation in Venezuela and the impeachment de facto The events surrounding Nicolás Maduro's arrest have shaken the world order and are also having repercussions on the domestic politics of many countries. Spain is no exception—the public debate has revolved around the issue in recent days—and, in this context, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, far from remaining neutral, is attempting to establish himself as a strong voice against Trump within the European Union. He has not only sought to define his own position—being more forceful in his condemnation of US actions than some other European partners—but has also aimed to appeal to the left-wing electorate domestically, positioning Spain as a "counterweight" to the far right in a letter to socialist party members this Sunday regarding Trump's policies. This is not the first time Sánchez has sought to assert his position within the EU: he did so with Palestine, as well as in the debate on NATO rearmament and also in the rapprochement with China. At a time when domestic politics are not going his way: he remains plagued by corruption scandals and lacks a parliamentary majority to pass the budget.

In an interview on Cadena SER this Monday, Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares emphasized Spain's role in the crisis, although in practice it is not currently playing a leading role. Albares highlighted Spain's influence on the European Union's statement on the Venezuelan crisis (which he admitted he would have liked to see be more forceful in its condemnation of Trump). since he was merely calling for prudence) and also in the joint declaration of the Latin American countries that reject the attack on VenezuelaThe agreement, also signed by Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Uruguay, states, "We want to maintain the multilateral order. We will not resign ourselves to the imposition of a new order based on the law of the strongest and the jungle." "Respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states is non-negotiable. From Ukraine to Gaza, including Venezuela," Sánchez told X, while also calling for "solidarity" with Denmark and Greenland.

In his view, defending the multilateral order involves denouncing the United States' "violations of international law" and also a "moral rearmament" to defend the EU's principles and values. He noted that Trump is supporting far-right movements that challenge the EU and linked upholding UN norms to maintaining democracy internally as well. However, he avoided referring to Maduro's detention as a "kidnapping": "I have to be careful with my words," he said.

The Spanish government rejects any solution that comes from "outside Venezuela" and is not the result of "dialogue" among Venezuelans. In this regard, it has positioned Spain as a "bridge" between the Venezuelan opposition and the government now headed by former Vice President and Chavista leader Delcy Rodríguez. During Monday's United Nations Security Council meeting, Spain argued that "the use of force never leads to democracy" and that natural resources are under Venezuelan sovereignty.

Mobilizing the left-wing electorate

The opposition to Donald Trump's actions is not only strategic for the Moncloa Palace (the Spanish Prime Minister's residence) to try to pull the European Union towards its positions, but it is also a way to mobilize the left-wing vote in Spain, which is currently in crisis, according to the polls. This is evident in the letter that Sánchez himself sent to the Socialist Party membership on Sunday: "Spain has become the main counterweight in Europe to the advance of the far-right international movement and one of the few voices that still firmly defend peace, international law, the welfare state, and calls for climate commitments." Regarding mobilization: "We progressives have the moral right to fight for progress, especially when progress is in danger." Sánchez already applied the same formula in the debate on Palestine. He seized upon this issue and dominated the domestic agenda for weeks, announcing the recognition of the Palestinian state and the arms embargo on Israel, or encouraging citizen mobilization against Benjamin Netanyahu's government at events like the Tour de France. Recently, Spanish Radio and Television (RTVE) withdrew from the Eurovision Song Contest due to Israel's participation.

Aside from the Palestine debate, highly sensitive for the left-wing electorate, Sánchez has also had his own voice on the issue of increasing defense spending, as demanded by Donald Trump, and on paving the way for closer ties with China, something that has unsettled even European partners like Germany, particularly regarding the automotive sector.

Sánchez was the first EU leader who, after Trump's victory and amidst the clash over tariffs with the United States, visited the country led by Xi Jinping. During the trip, the Spanish president advocated building a positive agenda with the Chinese giant and deepening relations between the two countries, which provoked Washington's anger. "Getting closer to China would be like cutting your own throat," Washington threatened at the time. This has not been the only direct clash. On the issue of armaments, Sánchez was the only leader who refused to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP—Spain will reach 2.1%—a position directly opposed to Donald Trump, who He even suggested expelling the country from NATO. For now, things haven't come to a head.

Criticism from the PP and Podemos

However, Sánchez is not the only one using foreign policy to raise his profile; the right wing has also seized upon the Venezuelan issue. to point out alleged links of the "Sanchismo" with Chavismo through former Spanish President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. "The PP's position on foreign policy seems absurd and ridiculous to me," Albares retorted on Monday. At this point, he recalled that the opposition candidate for Venezuela, Edmundo González, is "free" in Madrid and not detained in Caracas thanks to Pedro Sánchez's government. "However much the PP may seem like a Venezuelan party, it doesn't support Venezuelans; rather, it uses Venezuelans to try to undermine the government," he summarized.

Regarding the criticisms leveled by the People's Party (PP) against former Spanish President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero—whose relations with Venezuela were strained—Albares downplayed them: "Mr. Feijóo is not included in the statement issued by the European Union, nor in that of the Latin American countries [...]. He has not condemned Trump's actions." However, the Socialist Party's (PSOE) stance is also failing to satisfy the left. Irene Montero, from Podemos, has accused Sánchez's party of "hypocrisy" and has called on Spain to sever relations with the United States and "isolate the tyrant" Trump. Albares, in any case, expressed his willingness to appear before the Congress of Deputies when necessary to explain Spain's position on the Venezuelan crisis.