Venezuelan far-right politician and fugitive from justice Leopoldo López once again backed a potential U.S. military intervention against Venezuela, asserting from Madrid that pressure from Washington is the only way to bring about “regime change” in the country.
In an interview with the Spanish news agency EFE on Thursday, October 23, López responded positively when asked if he would welcome a US attack on Venezuelan soil.
In this regard, the far-right politician maintained that the pressure exerted by Washington should not be limited to maritime operations in the Caribbean, which have already left at least 30 people dead: “I think it’s right that this pressure not only be exerted at sea, as has already happened with several vessels, but that it can also extend to targets within Venezuelan territory,” López declared.
These statements — in line with those made on September 20 — align with the growing hostility of the U.S. government toward Caracas, which has revived its “fight against drug trafficking” rhetoric as an argument to justify military operations in the Caribbean region, despite the fact that these violate international law.
López, convicted in 2015 for his responsibility in the violent actions that left dozens dead during the protests known as “guarimbas,” thus revives a narrative that has served as justification for the imposition of unilateral coercive measures that affect the Venezuelan people’s access to food and medicine.
The Venezuelan government has repeatedly denounced that these types of calls from the extremist opposition seek to legitimize foreign intervention under the pretext of a “democratic transition,” benefiting a sector that promotes violence from abroad.
Who is Leopoldo López?
Today’s statements are nothing new. Leopoldo López is a Venezuelan far-right figure with a long history of promoting coups against the South American country.
A former mayor of Chacao and presidential candidate, he was sentenced in 2015 to 13 years, nine months, and seven days in prison for instigating violent protests, known as “guarimbas,” that left 43 people dead in 2014.
His extensive criminal record also includes instigation to commit a crime, public intimidation, damage to Venezuelan state property, and aggravated intentional homicide.
In July 2017, the Supreme Court of Justice granted him house arrest as a humanitarian measure due to health problems.
However, on April 30, 2019, he appeared publicly on a bridge near La Carlota Air Base, joining the coup attempt led by opposition leader Juan Guaidó. The conspiracy did not have the support of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB), which reaffirmed its loyalty to President Nicolás Maduro and thwarted the attempted uprising.
In October 2020, evading criminal prosecution, López secretly fled Venezuela to Spain with external help and has since persisted in his efforts to instigate multiple destabilizing actions.
In January 2025, the Venezuelan Public Prosecutor’s Office announced measures against the far-right leader, including a Red Alert request to Interpol, after accusing him of promoting foreign military intervention in the country.
IMAGE CREDIT: López is part of a group of far-right politicians operating under Washington’s influence with the aim of ending the Bolivarian process. Photo: EFE
[ SOURCE: teleSUR ]
