Venezuelans in exile: This could be the end of a very dark chapter for Venezuela, but also the beginning of a time of uncertainty'

"My mom called me to tell me that La Carlota, an air base in the heart of Caracas, had been attacked. I checked the WhatsApp groups I share with other Venezuelans, both inside and outside the country, and they were already sharing videos and speculating about what was happening, he recounts."

"I was a journalist for five years in Venezuela, and I've learned not to get carried away in situations like this. I've had moments of hope and disappointment in the past regarding positive change in Venezuela. It feels like anything can happen, but I'm watching with caution. Vargas also called for peace: This is a critical moment, and calm and level-headedness are needed. It could be the end of a very dark chapter for Venezuela, but also the beginning of a time of uncertainty and instability."

More than 400,000 Venezuelans were living in Spain at the beginning of 2025, with about 200,000 registered in Madrid. The U.S. bombing of Venezuela and the U.S. military arrest of President Nicolás Maduro shocked Venezuela and reverberated strongly in Spain, particularly in Madrid. Venezuelan residents in Madrid scrambled to contact family and followed events in real time on phones and WhatsApp groups. Initial confusion gave way to cautious hope for political change among exiles, while community members urged calm and warned that the moment could bring either an end to a dark chapter or a period of instability.

Read at english.elpais.com