Spain Calls for De-escalation and Offers to Mediate Following Maduro’s Capture

The Spanish government has officially offered to act as a mediator following the dramatic capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by US forces. 

In a statement released on Saturday, Spain's Foreign Ministry urged all parties to exercise "restraint and de-escalation" as the world reacts to the large-scale US strike on Caracas.

Acknowledging the tens of thousands of Venezuelans who have sought refuge in Spain due to political instability, the ministry emphasized its commitment to finding a "democratic, negotiated, and peaceful solution" for the crisis-torn nation.

Spain’s offer comes from a position of historical involvement in the Venezuelan political crisis. Madrid notably refused to recognize the results of the July 2024 elections, in which Maduro claimed a third six-year term amid widespread allegations of fraud. 

The election results were contested by the international community after Venezuela’s National Electoral Council failed to provide detailed polling data.

Following that disputed vote, the opposition's candidate, Edmundo González Urrutia, fled to Madrid aboard a Spanish military plane and was granted political asylum. 

Meanwhile, opposition leader and recent Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado—who met González in Stockholm under dramatic circumstances—reportedly remains in hiding within Venezuela.

By offering to mediate, Spain seeks to prevent further military escalation while pushing for a transition that aligns with democratic values. 

As Maduro is reportedly held in US custody, Spain’s diplomatic intervention aims to address the power vacuum in Caracas and the future of the Venezuelan state through dialogue rather than continued conflict.