Spain's Stance on Venezuela: A Test of International Law

Spain has taken a firm stand against what it sees as a breach of international law in Venezuela. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez shared his thoughts in a letter to his Socialist Party members. This comes after the U. S. took action to detain Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Sanchez's words were stronger than his previous statement. Earlier, he had said Spain wouldn't support the U. S. intervention. But now, he's openly condemning it. His letter calls the U. S. action a "violation of international law" and says Spain strongly disagrees with it. The U. S. claims Maduro is involved in drug trafficking and came to power through fraud. Maduro denies these accusations. Venezuelan officials are demanding his release.Spain has a large Venezuelan community. Many of them are part of the opposition. Some prominent figures live in Spain, like Edmundo Gonzalez and Leopoldo Lopez. Protests have been happening in Madrid. On Sunday, left-wing demonstrators gathered at the U. S. embassy. They were against the U. S. actions. The day before, thousands celebrated Maduro's detention at Puerta del Sol. The legality of the U. S. action is up for debate. International law usually bans force between countries. There are exceptions, like if the U. N. Security Council allows it or if it's for self-defense. The U. N. Security Council is set to discuss this on Monday. It's a complex situation. Spain's reaction shows how tricky international politics can be.