Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s warning that the United States military operation pushes Venezuela toward “a horizon of uncertainty and belligerence” captures regional concerns about cascading instability. Saturday’s strikes that captured President Nicolás Maduro have raised fears about broader destabilization extending beyond Venezuela’s borders.
The uncertainty encompasses questions about Venezuela’s political future, humanitarian crises, refugee flows, and potential conflicts between nations with different positions on the intervention. Colombia’s military mobilization reflects practical concerns about how instability in one country affects neighbors.
Belligerence could manifest in multiple forms, from internal Venezuelan conflict to diplomatic confrontations between nations supporting and opposing the American intervention. The operation has already created visible tensions between the United States and major powers including China and Russia.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi has announced that Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores will face drug trafficking charges in New York, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirming the charges relate to narcotics operations. President Trump stated the couple is currently aboard a ship being transported to the United States for prosecution.
The international response has been characterized by widespread condemnation emphasizing regional stability concerns. UN Secretary General António Guterres warned of dangerous precedents, while Latin American responses have divided along ideological lines. Colombia’s mobilization for anticipated refugee flows demonstrates how regional stability concerns transcend ideological positions, affecting practical security calculations for neighboring nations.