A View from the Mountains

Spanish president Pedro Sanchez (PSOE) announced a range of tax cuts on Friday made official by a BOE (Boletin Oficial del Estado).

These were due to come into force yesterday, Saturday.

Pedro Sanchez [El Mundo]    

This action was taken to mitigate the effects of the War in Iran and surrounding Gulf States on the price of oil, petrol, diesel and heating oil. In all Sanchez announced 80 measures.

Duty on petrol and all types of oil has been axed from 21 per cent to 10 per cent. Tax on rents has been reduced to just 2 per cent and certain food items have had their prices frozen.

First "out of the blocks"

This move by Spain, the first country in Europe to act to offset rising prices caused by the war in the Middle East, has not been straightforward. Sumar, a left-of-centre party and a key coalition partner of PSOE, has not supported the government. Their leader, Yolanda Diaz, says the government have not gone far enough.

Yolanda Diaz of SUMAR [Articulo 14]    

Nevertheless, petrol stations in Ronda, where I live, are now displaying the "discounted" price. The cheapest for sin plomo 95 is "La Tortuga" at 159.9 a litre compared to 175.9 on Friday. Other filling stations are charging one or two cents more, while the big companies like Moeve (formerly CEPSA) are quite a bit dearer.

    Cheapest fuel in Ronda [Paul Whitelock]           Filling up with diesel [Komparing]

Last Word

Well done, Pedro, for displaying a sense of "duty". You are standing up to Donald Trump and not forgetting your people who are struggling financially at home here in Spain.

© Paul Whitelock

Pictures:

Articulo 14, El Mundo, Komparing, Paul Whitelock

Thanks:

AS, El Periodico, RTVE, Wikipedia

Tags:

159.9 a litre, Articulo 14, AS, BOE, Boletin Oficial del Estado, CEPSA, diesel, Donald Trump, El Mundo, El Periodico, filling station, Gulf States, heating oil, Komparing, "La Tortuga", Moeve, oil, PSOE, Paul Whitelock, Pedro Sanchez, petrol, petrol station, RTVE, Ronda, sense of duty, sin plomo 95, SUMAR, tax cuts, war in Iran, war in the Middle East, Wikipedia, Yolanda Diaz

After a winter of chasing around the Ronda area trying to find a bar open in the evenings for a pre-prandial drink or two, and often failing, not just three come along at once, but six!

This dearth of places to have a drink was partly brought about by 11 named violent storms, heavy rainfall, high winds, flooding and lots of damage to homes, outbuildings, crops and livestock, evacuations and several deaths. 

    [YouTube]

I wrote recently about three grand openings as we move into Spring, but the owners of three other bars / restaurants let it be known that they had either recently opened, or were due to open or to re-open soon.

Bar Stop, Benaojan Estacion

This bar had just re-opened "in an old guise", when the barriada was closed off and had to be evacuated partly for fear of serious flooding.

For two years Bar Stop had functioned as Bar Ankanita after owner Anita retired. However, she decided to come out of retirement, renovate and open up again.

Now, after the unexpected shut-down, Bar Stop is up and running again.

    [Facebook]

A great breakfast and lunch venue, Bar Stop is as good as it ever was and has made a welcome return to the scene.

Venta El Pelistre, Llano de La Cruz, Arriate

This popular watering hole and restaurant shut for two weeks holiday, then the road was blocked by mud and flood water for a few days and the chef had to have an operation, so the owners Manolo and Isa extended their closure by another two weeks.

They are scheduled to re-open tomorrow, Friday February 27th.

    [Restaurant Guru]

El Pelistre has been sorely missed, so many will be glad to see it back!

Restaurante La Cascada, Fuente de la Higuera, Ronda

Their planned re-opening on St Valentine's Day (February 14th) after their extended winter break, didn't happen as the swollen river Guadalcobacin, which is adjacent to Hotel Molino del Puente, where La Cascada is located, breached the flood defences and entered the ground floor to a depth of half a metre.

    [Trip Advisor]

The clean-up is now almost complete, the hotel has dried out and the affected areas re-painted. According to owners Ian and Elaine Love the re-opening is planned for Thursday March 5th.

© Paul Whitelock

Link:

Grand Openings!

Photos:

Facebook, Restaurant Guru, Trip Advisor, YouTube

Thanks:

Paul Whitelock 

Tags:

11 named violent storms, Bar Stop, Benaojan Estacion, crops, El Pelistre, evacuations, Facebook, flooding and lots of damage to homes, four deaths, grand openings, heavy rainfall, high winds, La Cascada, livestock, Molino del Puente, outbuildings, Paul Whitelock, re-opening, Restaurant Guru, St Valentine's Day, three grand openings, Trip Advisor, YouTube

Today, February 24th 2022, four years ago, Russia began its "special operation" in Ukraine. Vladimir Putin must have thought the West was stupid if it believed this was nothing but all out war. The stupid one here was Putin.

In the 1461 days of the war official figures for the number of deaths of soldiers and civilians is 1.8 million of which 1.2 million are Russian and only 600,000 Ukrainian. Does that mean that the Ukrainian military is superior to the Russian army?

[YouTube]    

Civilian deaths are difficult to verify because of the haphazard and chaotic nature of the conflict.

The Russia/Ukraine war continues to evolve, with significant military  actions and ongoing peace talks shaping the conflict's landscape.

What the Papers Say

"The war in Ukraine has become a proving ground for modern warfare, with both sides adapting to new technologies and strategies. Recent reports indicate that over 80% of Russian military targets destroyed in 2025 were taken out by drones, highlighting the increasing reliance on unmanned aerial vehicles in combat.

    [The Guardian]

The conflict has also seen  Russia experimenting with new drone technologies to extend its strike capabilities, complicating Ukrainian air defense efforts."

"Military Actions: In recent weeks, there have been significant  military engagements, including  Russian shelling in the Donetsk region, which resulted in civilian  casualties. For instance, at least  seven people were killed in the town of Druzhkivka due to Russian  attacks using cluster munitions. 

"Peace Talks: Negotiators from Ukraine, Russia, and the United  States have begun a second round of peace talks in Abu Dhabi, focusing on the longterm fate of territories in eastern Ukraine.

    [YouTube]

However,  the ongoing military actions raise questions about the sincerity of ceasefire discussions. 

"Humanitarian Impact: The war has had devastating effects on the civilian population, with  ongoing attacks on infrastructure leading to severe humanitarian crises. Reports indicate that  Russian attacks have targeted civilian infrastructure, exacerbating the suffering of those in conflict  zones."
 

"Ukraine has defended its independence since Russia's invasion and will not betray the sacrifices made by its people as it seeks peace, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in an address marking the fourth anniversary of the start of the war."

"Putin has not achieved his goals. He has not broken the Ukrainian people. He has not won this war," Zelenskiy said on Tuesday. "We have preserved Ukraine, and we will do everything to achieve peace. And to ensure justice."

    [Wikipedia]

Link:

Rogues gallery – Hijo de  Putin

© Paul Whitelock

Images:

Reuters, The Guardian, Wikipedia, YouTube

Thanks:

BBC, France 24, Kyiv Post, Paul Whitelock, Reuters, Sky News, The Guardian, Wikipedia

Tags:

BBC, France 24, Kyiv Post, Paul Whitelock, Putin, Reuters, Sky News, The Guardian, Wikipedia, YouTube, Zelenskiy, 

After a winter of chasing around trying to find a bar open in the evenings for a pre-prandial drink or two, and often failing, things are looking up!

The traumas caused by nine named violent storms, heavy rainfall, high winds, flooding and lots of damage to homes, outbuildings, crops and livestock, evacuations and several deaths have been immense. As we approach Spring, three grand openings have been announced.

[Image courtesy of the BBC]    

***

Tomorrow Friday, a brand-new venue opens in Montejaque.

A former house has been turned into a bar/restaurant, named "La Chica" (meaning "small" in this case, rather than "girl") to be run by two brothers from the village, Ruben and Borja.

A few years before the brothers had La Terraza I and La Terraza II, just outside the village, together with their late pal Cayetano, who sadly died in a cycling accident.

Awaiting photo    

***

On Saturday the refurbished Ronda Valley Hotel (Don Benito) re-opens as Hotel Don Manuel. The hotel has been closed for two months while new owner David Garcia and his team have given the place a complete makeover.

A completely new colour scheme, new furniture and a re-arrangement of the internal space in the public areas. The bedrooms have been stripped bare and re-done.

[Ronda Today]    

Lots of people will be looking forward to 1.00 pm on Saturday.

***

The third grand opening is at at Molino del Santo in Benaojan Estacion.

Their planned opening was for St Valentine's Day, but that was ki-boshed when the barriada was shut down for fear of a flood from the Montejaque dam.

According to their latest e-newsletter they will be back in action in about three weeks, so it won't be long before the missus and I find a reason to go there to celebrate something or other.

[Molino del Santo]    

As for me, I shall attend the grand openings tomorrow and Saturday and we'll both be off to Molino del Santo soon!

Update 1:

I went to the opening of "La Chica" promptly at 11.00 am. I was the only customer for a while. "Too early", the second customer, a local, told me. "It's only alcoholics like you and me that start drinking so early!"

Mmm!

Back to "La Chica". The name is accurate - it is indeed "small" - but beautifully done with interesting artefacts on the walls.

I decided to book a table for dinner for Rita and me. At 8.00 pm it was already crowded, and it got even busier later. The food was exquisite and the bill was a few cents over 50 euros. Highly recommended.

[awaiting photos]

Update 2:

At the grand opening of the 4-star Hotel Don Manuel, there was a slight delay while the assembled crowd waited for the delegate from Ronda Council who was running late.

After short speeches by the new owners the ribbon was cut and we were welcomed into our familiar local which has been utterly transformed. Lighter colours have made the place seem brighter and more spacious.

With two dining rooms and a large terrace the hotel is set up for family dining and for events, such as weddings, baptisms and confirmations.

The four show bedrooms, each different, were spacious and tastefully designed. Our favourite was Room 105 on the first floor. Ultimately the hotel will offer 24 rooms.

The bar area was packed. It was hot and sunny, so everybody had a thirst. Complimentary tapas were served by the staff and it was all rather jolly.

We looked at the restaurant menu which offered a range of interesting-sounding dishes at reasonable prices. We have booked a table for dinner this evening and are looking forward to it. And nobody has to drive, as we live within walking distance.

BTW, the new hotel is named after owner David's late father, Manuel, who perished in a fire aged 50, when David was a youngster.

[awaiting photos]

STOP PRESS:

We were just getting ready to go for dinner when I received a text message from David to say that they'd run out of food and would not be able to accommodate us after all. They had had 300 guests for lunch and they'd scoffed the lot!

So, all dressed up and nowhere to go! But we went to another relatively new restaurant in Ronda that we had not yet tried. Where was it? You can find out here at The "Guiri" Gourmet.

© Paul Whitelock

Link:

Bengal Feast - Eye on Spain

Photos:

BBC, Molino del Santo, Ronda Today

Thanks:

David Garcia, Paul Whitelock

Tags:

Benaojan Estacion, Borja, brand-new venue opens in Montejaque, Cayetano, crops, David Garcia, Don Benito, evacuations, flood from the Montejaque dam, flooding and lots of damage to homes, four deaths, heavy rainfall, high winds, Hotel Don Manuel, "La Chica", La Terraza I, La Terraza II, livestock, Molino del Santo, nine named violent storms, outbuildings, Ronda Valley Hotel, Ruben, St Valentine's Day, three grand openings,

Robert Duvall and Jesse Jackson both died this week, each having left a remarkable legacy in their respective fields of endeavour.

Robert Duvall passed aged 95 (1931 - 2026), an actor of remarkable skill, who played Tom Hagen, "Il Consiglieri", to Marlon Brando's "Godfather" in two films; a memorable role in "Apocalypse Now"; plus key roles in many other important films of the 1970s and 1980s.

Nominated five times for a best actor Oscar, he won it once in 1984 for "Tender Mercies".

Duvall with his Oscar [BBC]    

Arguably he was short-changed, although he also won a BAFTA, an Emmy and four Golden Globes, as well as other awards.

He first came to prominence as Boo Radley in Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird", a role in which he did not speak.

In "Apocalypse Now" he spoke the immortal line "I love the smell of napalm in the morning", which will forever be associated with this Californian-born actor.

***

Rev. Jesse Jackson was 84 (1941 - 2026) when he left us yesterday, Tuesday. A champion of civil rights and human rights, he was a contemporary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

According to The New York Times Jackson was an impassioned orator, and was a moral and political force, forming a “rainbow coalition” of poor and working-class people and seeking the presidency on two occasions. 

Jackson in full flow [La Jornada]    

His mission, he said, was “to transform the mind of America". 

The lengthy NYT obituary was very negative about Jackson, who was born in South Carolina. On the other hand EL PAIS in English gives him a more favourable death notice.

Jesse Jackson ran for president in both 1984 and 1988, but, despite coming close to getting the presidential nomination in 1988, he never achieved elected office.

Active until 2017 when he became ill with what turned out to be Parkinson's Disease, his legacy was significant.

According to Sky News Jackson became friends with Ronald and Nancy Reagan, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Barack and Michelle Obama and many others.

© Paul Whitelock

Links:

Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson has died, family says | News UK Video News | Sky News

Jesse Jackson, Charismatic Champion of Civil Rights, Dies at 84 - The New York Times

Jesse Jackson, veteran US civil rights activist, dies at 84 | U.S. | EL PAÍS English

Robert Duvall - Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre

The Truth About Boo Radley - YouTube video

Photos:

BBC, La Jornada

Acknowledgements:

EL PAIS in English, New York Times, Sky News, Wikipedia, 

Tags:

"Apocalypse Now", Barack and Michelle Obama, best actor Oscar, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Boo Radley, BAFTA, BBC, champion of civil rights and human rights, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., EL PAIS in English, Emmy, four Golden Globes, Godfather, Harper Lee, Il Consiglieri, "I love the smell of napalm in the morning", La Jornada, Marlon Brando, New York Times, Parkinson's Disease, “rainbow coalition”, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Robert Duvall, Ronald and Nancy Reagan, Sky News, "Tender Mercies", "To Kill a Mockingbird"

With concerns in many democracies that socialism is on its way out in the face of increasing success in elections of far right parties, it was refreshing that Portugal has shifted firmly to the left of centre in their general election two days ago.

Seguro celebrates victory in Portugal [RFI]    

With concerns in many European democracies about the rise in popularity of the AfD in Germany, Reform UK, VOX in Spain, Meloni in Italy, Le Pen in France and Trump-ism in the USA, it's refreshing to learn that the socialist party in Portugal achieved its best ever result, sending the right-wing party into oblivion.

So, is Socialism Dead?

Whilst we are at a turning point in world politics, with dictatorships in China, India, North Korea, and Russia calling most of the shots, this is a crucial time for electorates to come to their senses and eschew the far right.

    Vladimir Putin [unknown]                                       Kim Jong-Un [El Mundo]

    Xi Jinping [Britannica]                                           Narendra Modi [Britannica]

There are widespread fears of a return to Nazism despite the images of the concentration camps, gas chambers and exhumed corpses of World War II ever present on our TV screens as we commemorate the 80 year anniversary of the end of that brutal conflict.

If not, what's next?

There is a bulwark of socialism in Canada, Denmark, France, Ireland, Poland, Scandinavia, Spain, the UK and now Portugal. In addition, socialists have a presence in coalition governments in Germany and the Netherlands.

Whilst Emmanuel Macron, Sir Keir Starmer, and Pedro Sanchez are unpopular in their respective countries and might not last much longer, all three bestride the international stage with aplomb and resolve.

Mark Carney the Liberal Party's prime minister of Canada is an important antidote to the tyranny of Donald Trump.

Links

Centre-left holds off far-right as Seguro wins Portugal's presidential election - RFI

© Paul Whitelock

Photos:

Britannica, El Mundo, RFI

Thanks:

Malaga Hoy, Paul Whitelock, RTVE

Tags:

AfD, Canada, China, coalition governments, concentration camps, Denmark, Emmanuel Macron, exhumed corpses, France, gas chambers, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Keir Starmer, Kim Jong-Un, Le Pen, Malaga Hoy, Mark Carney, Meloni, Narendra Modi, nazism, Netherlands, North Korea, Paul Whitelock, Pedro Sanchez, Poland, Portugal, Putin, RTVE, Reform UK, Russia, Scandinavia, Seguro, socialism, Spain, Trump-ism, UK, USA, VOX, World War II, Xi Jinping,

Who are they? Or what are they? Three names sound English, one German, one Scandinavian, one Italian and one Spanish.

They are, in fact, the names given to the borrascas (storms) we've suffered in Malaga province this hydrological year (2025/26). SEVEN named storms since October! And that's not counting several other unnamed bad weather events.

[BBC]    

And there are still climate change deniers out there! Unbelievable!

When does a storm get given a name?

When it is deemed that a storm is likely to have a significant impact on the population in its path. The aim is to ease tracking, to improve the communication of weather alerts and to avoid confusion when there are several weather events happening at the same time, as now.

Alice hit us at the beginning of October.

Then, it went quiet until January 16th when Harry arrived.

Four days later we felt the wrath of Ingrid, then five days after that Joseph.

Within two days, Kristin came on January 27th.

Eight days later it was the turn of Leonardo and three days after that Marta.

[Facebook]    

That was two days ago. Another unnamed storm is due to hit us today.

What damage has been done?

As of this morning three people have died and thousands have been evacuated from their homes. The entire village of Grazalema, just across the border in Cadiz province, has been emptied of people, most of whom have been accommodated in a sports hall in Ronda (Malaga). 

Residents of Benaojan Estacion have also been evacuated as a precaution.

    [Euro Weekly News]                                        Flooding in Benaojan [Reuters]

The generosity of companies, bars, restaurants, charities and individuals has been astonishing, with donations of food, drink, clothes and time. 

Maripaz Fernandez, the mayoress of Ronda, has allocated emergency council funding; Benito Gomez, the double Michelin-starred chef has set up a kitchen; Solidarios, a local charity, has allocated volunteers and funding. 

As one commentator, writing in SUR, the Malaga newspaper, yesterday, put it. There are no Spaniards as generous and supportive as the people of Andalucía.

Benito Gomez and other chefs help out [Malaga Hoy]    

Links

    [YouTube]                                                              `[Sky News]

© Paul Whitelock

Pictures:

BBC, Diario SUR, Euro Weekly News, Facebook, Karl Smallman, Malaga Hoy, Paul Whitelock, RTVE, Reuters, Ronda Semanal, Sky News, YouTube

Thanks:

Diario SUR, Malaga Hoy, Paul Whitelock, RTVE, Ronda Semanal

Tags:

Alice, Andalucía, Benaojan, Benito Gomez, borrasca, BBC, Cadiz, dam, Diario SUR, embalse, Euro Weekly News, Facebook, Grazalema, Harry, Ingrid, Joseph, Karl Smallman, Kristin, Leonardo, Malaga Hoy, Maripaz Fernandez, Marta, Montejaque, Paul Whitelock, RTVE, Reuters, reservoir, Ronda Semanal, Sky News, Solidarios, storm, YouTube

Today is World Cancer Day, an international day observed every February 4th to raise awareness about cancer, encourage its prevention, and mobilise action to address the global cancer epidemic.

The day is led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and was established in the year 2000.

    [poster by Freepik]

Aims of the organisation

By catalysing personal, collective and government action, they are all working together to reimagine a world where millions of cancer deaths are prevented and access to life-saving cancer treatment and care is equitable for all no matter who they are nor where they live.    

[Our Cancer Stories]    

Each year, hundreds of activities and events take place around the world, gathering communities, organisations and individuals in schools, businesses, hospitals, marketplaces, parks, community halls, places of worship - in the streets and online - acting as a powerful reminder  that everybody has a role to play in reducing the global impact of cancer. 

Impact in 2024

27k+ press articles in 159 countries 

900+ activities and events in 127 countries 

500k+ social media mentions

How does the organisation work?

UICC runs World Cancer Day campaigns in three-year cycles to allow for a deeper exploration of a particular theme and achieve greater impact.   

The World Cancer Day theme 2025-2027, “United by Unique” places people at the centre of care and explores new ways of making a difference.   

Cancer is more than just a medical diagnosis — it’s a deeply personal matter. Behind every diagnosis lies a unique human story - stories of grief, pain, healing, resilience, love and more.

[UICC]    

That’s why a people-centred approach to cancer care that fully integrates each individual’s unique needs, with compassion and empathy, leads to the best health outcomes.  

Every experience with cancer is unique and it will take all of us, united, to create a world where we look beyond the disease and see the person before the patient.

A world where the needs of people and communities are at the centre of health systems.

World Cancer Day activity [UICC]    

The World Cancer Day theme 2025-2027, “United by Unique”, .....

..... places people at the centre of care and explores new ways of making a difference.   

That’s why a people-centred approach to cancer care that fully integrates each individual’s unique needs, with compassion and empathy, leads to the best health outcomes.  

© Paul Whitelock

With thanks to:

El Periodico, RNE, TVE1, “United by Unique”, UICC, worldcancerday.org

Pictures:

Freepik, Our Cancer Stories, UICC

Tags:

cancer, El Periodico, Freepik, grief, healing, love, Our Cancer Stories, pain, RNE, resilience, TVE1, “United by Unique”, UICC, worldcancerday.org

Yes, these towns in the Serrania de Ronda and the Sierra de Grazalema have hit the headlines! Blanket coverage on national TV, online and in the national Press. For all the wrong reasons!

Because of the extreme weather coming in from the West, principally Storm Leonardo, red and orange alerts have been issued for Cadiz, Extremadura and parts of Andalucia. All schools are closed, except in Almeria province. Many supermarkets are shut and other places are expected to suspend their services.

Three hotels near us are underwater, residents have been evacuated from their homes in the Guadiaro Valley, and countless roads have been blocked by flood water.

On TV, President of the Andalucía regional government Juanma Moreno (PP), warned against travelling by car unless absolutely necessary.

Ronda today [La Opinion de Malaga]

Our personal story

Rita was due to fly to Germany today from Malaga Airport. Imagine our shock when we received weather alerts on our mobile phones last night warning us of the severe situation. Extensive research online indicated that the worst of the weather was from breakfast time onwards.

After considering several options Rita decided she would set off early alone and park at the airport. Accordingly she left at 06.30 in pouring rain for her 10.15 flight. She made good time, even managing to stop for a coffee on the Churriana road.

I booked her in at our regular car park service and Rita was at the airport before check-in opened!

    [The Olive Press]

Everything went smoothly after that. Her flight departed 17 minutes late, but she is at least on her way to the snow and ice of south-west Germany.

Rita landed safe and sound a short while ago.

Back at the ranch

It's been pouring down non-stop. Daylight revealed that we now have a villa by a lake - our garden. Many might regard us as fortunate; indeed houses by lakes in countries like Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and the UK (eg The Lake District, Scotland, Wales) fetch a premium when sold.

However, since our lake is unintended and potentially damaging to our property (foundations, indoor flooding, rising damp) the opposite is the case. 

Flooding in Ronda [The Olive Press]    

What next?

Insurance and consorcio claims. I reckon the CCS will take over all of our claims for damage.

Starting with the damage caused by last Thursday's storms and now whatever happens over the next few days on top. Could be a big bill!

Flooding in Jimera de la Fra. [Euro Weekly News]    

Update:

I ventured out in the car around midday to get some live photos, but soon returned home. It was looking far too dangerous to go any further (subsequently confirmed by live TV coverage of the affected areas). Here is a selection of photos I took in Fuente de la Higuera, where I live (in a villa by a lake!):

Links

"Here Comes the Rain Again!" - again! - Eye on Spain

Here Comes the Rain Again (Remastered Version) - song by The Eurythmics (YouTube)

HOW TO ..... make a claim for FLOOD DAMAGE? - Eye on Spain

The rain in Spain... - Secret Serrania

© Paul Whitelock

Pictures:

Euro Weekly News, Karl Smallman, La Opinion de Malaga, Paul Whitelock, The Olive Press

Thanks:

Paul Whitelock, www.eyeonspain.com, www.secretserrania.com

Tags:

Benaojan, claims, consorcio, CCS, Denmark, Euro Weekly News, Eurythmics, Eye on Spain, flood damage, foundations, Germany, Grazalema, "Here Comes the Rain Again!", indoor flooding, insurance, Karl Smallman, Lake District, La Opinion de Malaga, National News, Netherlands, Norway, Paul Whitelock, rising damp, Ronda, Scotland, Secret Serrania, The Olive Press, UK, Wales, weather alerts

Donald J Trump's invasion of Venezuela on Saturday 3rd January 2026, the arrest and abduction of Nicolas Maduro, that country's prime minister and his incarceration in a top security prison in New York, have been roundly condemned by most of the rest of the world.

From Antonio Guterres, Emmanuel Macron, Friedrich Merz, Keir Starmer, Pedro Sanchez, Pope Leo XIV, Ursula van der Leyen and others, even Russia and China, the reaction has been loud and clear - condemnation.

Background

The US president has ordered the interception of suspected narcolanchas off the coast of Venezuela for some weeks.  Several boats have been sunk, others boarded and taken, resulting in a number of deaths.

The Orange One has been threatening to invade Venezuela for a while; now he's done it. This despite pleas from Maduro for talks to calm things down.

una narcolancha [EL PAIS]    

Has Trump (79) lost his marbles? Is this behaviour going to win him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2026? I think not.

US soldiers attacked several Venezuelan military bases while the Special Forces - in a very slick professional operation - managed to capture the president of that country and his wife Cilia and take them to a detention centre in up-state New York. The Pentagon said that Maduro will be tried for criminal offences. The attacks on Venezuela would cease immediately.

[Video courtesy of La Sexta]    

There were demonstrations against American imperialism in a number of cities throughout the USA and in Europe, where exiled venezolanos turned out in force in Paris, Barcelona and Bilbao. Pleased that Maduro is apparently gone, they did not approve of Trump's methods.

Lenox Napier, a Britsh-born journalist and blogger long resident in Andalucia, remarked: "The whole enterprise was a bit similar to Putin’s 2022 attack on Ukraine, the buildup of forces on the frontier and so on, but evidently turned out to be rather more successful".

Napier went on to speculate: "Will China feel that it’s their turn now with Taiwan? We shall see".

    Lenox Napier [Almeria Hoy]

Spain’s reaction to this remarkable coup understandably varied acccording to which party you represent. President Sánchez (PSOE) called for a de-escalation: “Both International law and the principles of the Charter of the United Nations must be respected”. 

Sánchez, in line with the EU, avoided expressly condemning the US operation, yet coalition partner Sumar denounced the attacks against Venezuela as “imperialist aggression". 

Alberto Núñez Feijóo (PP), out of touch as usual, was insisting on a quick transition led by Edmundo González (the doddery old Venezuelan politician who lives in exile in Madrid). 

The ex-Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias didn't mince his words: "They're bombing to steal their oil and impose a puppet government."

Gabriel Rufián (ERC spokesperson) said: 

"Bombing another country is not war, it's aggression, and detaining the President of that country is not an arrest, it's a kidnapping." 

    [Gabriel Rufian video by La Sexta]

We learned from El Mundo that Maduro will be tried for "narcoterrorism and possessing destructive arms against the USA".

News agency Reuters posted: "The Russian Foreign Ministry called the US strike on Venezuela 'deeply concerning and condemnable'.

Argentina’s President Milei, true to form, opined: "Freedom moves forward, hooray for freedom,  Goddammit’.

The pundit Chris Hedges wrote: "The kidnapping of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his wife solidifies America’s role as a gangster state. Violence does not generate peace. It generates violence. The immolation of international and humanitarian law, as the US and Israel have done in Gaza, and as took place in Caracas, generates a world without laws, a world of failed states, warlords, rouge imperial powers and perpetual violence and chaos…"

    [Chris Hedges courtesy of PBS]

The American vice-president JD Vance (41) tweeted: “The president offered multiple off-ramps, but was very clear throughout this process: the drug trafficking must stop, and the stolen oil must be returned to the United States. Maduro is the newest person to find out that President Trump means what he says."

What else has happened?

Around 600,000 Venezuelans live in exile in Spain, on the coasts and in other tourist areas. Many wealthier folk have infiltrated the smartest barrios in Madrid, where, having managed to get their money out of Caracas, they have invested in real-estate. 

We saw on the TV news that a large Venezuelan celebration was held in Madrid on Saturday afternoon "supported by both the PP and Vox".

One anonymous demonstrator told reporters: "I thought the Americans would solve this in a day at most, but if it's true that they captured Maduro in just three hours... that's a whole different ballgame".

In a live speech, more a "babbling monologue", which strayed off-topic a number of times, Trump told reporters and the watching TV audience on Saturday afternoon (CET) that the invasion of Venezuela was " ..... an assault not seen since World War II".  

“They took our oil infrastructure. We never had a president who did anything about it”, he told us, with a clear jibe at former president Joe Biden.  

    [Red Bubble]

“We are going to run the country until the arrival of a proper turnover of power”, he said.

“The oil business – we’re going to have our large American companies fix the infrastructure, and we are ready for a second, much larger attack if necessary”.

Did Secretary of State Marco Rubio (54) standing beside him look faintly embarrassed?

“National security, just like tariffs – make our country rich”, Trump continued.

“A year ago, we were a dead country, no longer”, said Trump, unerringly alienating half of the American population once again.

Following Trump's speech, we heard from his senior advisers.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio (54) warned: "Don’t play games with this president, because it won’t turn out well".

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth (45) "bigged up" the US troops: "We showed guts, grit, gallantry and glory", said in an alliterative moment (Napier).

The BBC dubbed the event: "A rather extraordinary press briefing".

The Guardian covered the Mar-a-Lago speeches here.

Footnote:

Trump, Rubio and Hegseth were born under the star sign Gemini, so are literally "two-faced".

    Trump [BBC]                   Marco Rubio [La Sexta ]                             Pete Hegseth [CNN en español]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Vance is a Leo ("Confident and creative, attention-seeking"). Although I don't believe in "The Stars", does this make it likely that if Trump does what the Law says and stands down at the end of his current second term as president, JD Vance will be the next Republican presidential candidate?

And then the 48th president of the USA? 

    JD Vance [Photo courtesy of The White House]

Surely even the US voters couldn't be that stupid again ..... Or could they?

Back to Venezuela

The exiled official opposition leader (and Nobel Peace Prize winner) Maria Corina Machado, speaking from an undisclosed site, said: “The time of freedom has arrived, and we are ready to take power”. 

However, 20Minutos reports that Trump has ruled out María Corina Machado to lead Venezuela: "She doesn't have the internal support or the respect of the country". 

Instead, Trump has chosen Maduro’s vice-president Delcy Rodríguez to take over.

     Maria Corina Machado [BBC]                         Delcy Rodriguez [Cadena SER]

From "The Other 98%", we are told: 

"Let’s strip away the euphemisms: this is invasion, not enforcement.

There was no imminent threat to American soil that justified the use of force under international law.

Venezuela sits on some of the largest proven oil reserves in the world, and its economic and geopolitical position has long made it a target of U.S. political and economic pressure".

[PolitiFact]    

Later

A few other reactions:

The Venezuelan Attorney General condemned the "cowardly imperial attack" against civilians in Venezuela. He also demanded the release of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.

Brazil's president Lula da Silva denounces the "unacceptable" US attack and the capture of Maduro and warns that it paves the way for a world where "the law of the strongest" prevails.

[El Confidencial]    

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Saturday said China is deeply shocked by and strongly condemns the US' blatant use of force against a sovereign state and action against its president.

The far-right French politician Marine Le Pen criticises the US attack on Venezuela.

Finally, Trump issues a stark warning to Colombia's Gustavo Petro: he asserts that Petro will be the next US target after Maduro.

© Paul Whitelock

Abbreviations used:

BBC - British  Broadcasting Corporation

CNN - Cable News Network

CET - Central European Time

ERC - Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya

EU - European Union

MSN - Microsoft News

PP - Partido Popular

PSOE - Partido Soialista de Obreros Españoles

PBS - Public Broadcasting Service

UK - United Kingdom

US - United States

USA - United States of America

Sources:

ABC, BBC, El Mundo, Lenox Napier, MSN, Paul Whitelock, SKY News, The Huffington Post

Pictures:

Almeria Hoy, BBC, CNN en español, Cadena SER, El Confidencial, La Sexta, PBS, PolitiFact, Red Bubble, Shutterstock

Tags:

Alberto Núñez Feijóo, Almeria Hoy, Antonio Guterres, ABC, BBC, CNN en español, Cadena SER, CET, Chris Hedges, Delcy Rodriguez, Edmundo González, El Confidencial, El Mundo, Emmanuel Macron, ERC, EU, Friedrich Merz, Gabriel Rufián, Gustavo Petro, JD Vance, Keir Starmer, La Sexta, Lenox Napier, Lula da Silva, Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth, Maria Corina Machado, Marine Le Pen, MSN, Nicolas Maduro, Pablo Iglesias, PP, PSOE, Paul Whitelock, Pedro Sanchez, PBS,  Podemos, PolitiFact, Pope Leo XIV, Red Bubble, Shutterstock, SKY News, Sumar, The Huffington Post, US, USA, Ursula van der Leyen