A gathering of Venezuelan-Canadians took place at Nathan Phillips Square on Sunday, where participants celebrated the recent capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife following a large-scale U.S. military strike. The crowd sang Venezuela's national anthem and waved flags, symbolizing their hope for change in their home country.
The captured couple remained in a detention center in New York on Sunday, facing narco-terrorism conspiracy charges. They are scheduled to make their initial appearance in Manhattan's federal court on Monday. Astrid Billarroel, a participant in the event, expressed a desire for Canadians to understand the perspective of Venezuelan Canadians. "It's very difficult because when you see a war in a different country, we do not agree with this, but we’ve been fighting for 26 years now in Venezuela," she stated.
Reactions to Maduro's capture have varied significantly. Protests occurred outside the U.S. consulate in Toronto on Saturday, where some demonstrators argued that President Donald Trump's actions constituted a violation of international law. One protester emphasized that many Venezuelans, including his family, were unhappy with the situation and that Trump should not have the authority to send a commission to govern Venezuela.
Conversely, many in Nathan Phillips Square viewed the U.S. military action as a beacon of hope for Venezuela, which they believe has been plagued by corruption. Luis Florez called for a complete overhaul of the current governmental structure, stating, "We’re just calling for Venezuela to be free and for the people holding Venezuela hostage to respect the decision of the people of Venezuela and let the legitimate government take control of the country." Veronica Hernandez highlighted that Maduro was just one of many corrupt leaders in Venezuela and reiterated the need for military support during the transition.
Daniela Yanez emphasized the broader implications of the situation, asserting, "This is not just about left or right or if we like Donald Trump or not, this is about the reality, the basic needs of Venezuelans. We need freedom, we need food, we need health, education, and the right to work."
However, not all experts agree on the motivations behind the U.S. strikes. Luis van Isschot, an Associate Professor of History at the University of Toronto, suggested that protecting U.S. interests in the region and expanding investments in Venezuela's oil industry may play a central role in the events unfolding. Following the military operation, President Trump announced that the U.S. would temporarily oversee Venezuela and sell substantial amounts of its oil to other nations. Secretary of State Marco Rubio added that the U.S. would continue to enforce an existing oil quarantine on sanctioned tankers even after Maduro's removal from power.
As the situation develops, van Isschot warned that the internal political and social dynamics in Venezuela might grow increasingly unstable. He noted, "This could cause a deepening of social unrest in the country, and for the region as a whole, I think many Latin Americans are watching with great trepidation."
According to Global Affairs Canada, since 2015, nearly eight million Venezuelans have fled their nation. Many individuals celebrating Maduro's capture in Toronto expressed their eagerness and anxiety about what the future holds for Venezuela in the wake of these significant political changes.
