More than 400 people gathered on Sunday outside the United States Embassy in Brussels to protest against Washington’s actions in Venezuela, according to Belgian news agency Belga. The demonstration reflected growing unease among activists over recent developments involving the South American nation.
Protesters condemned what they described as a US attack on Venezuela on January 3 and strongly criticised the alleged abduction of President Nicolás Maduro. Demonstrators claimed Maduro and his wife were taken to the United States, where the Venezuelan leader is reportedly awaiting trial.
The protest drew together activists, peace campaigners, and members of civil society groups, many of whom carried placards accusing Washington of violating international law. Chants and speeches focused on what participants called an unprecedented escalation in US interventionist policy.
US President Donald Trump has claimed that Nicolás Maduro leads a major drug cartel operating in Venezuela. Washington has long accused the Venezuelan leadership of corruption and involvement in organised crime, allegations that Caracas has consistently denied.
Critics of the US position argue that these accusations are politically motivated. They claim the charges are being used as a pretext to justify intervention and to gain control over Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, while weakening the influence of rival powers such as China in the region.
Among the speakers was Ludo De Brabander, a prominent member of the peace NGO Vrede. He described the US intervention as a “blatant violation of international law” and warned of the broader implications for global stability.
“Unprovoked attacks between nations undermine international order and replace it with the law of the jungle,” De Brabander told the crowd. He stressed that such actions erode the foundations of diplomacy and set dangerous precedents for future conflicts.
De Brabander also expressed outrage over what he described as the abduction of President Maduro. He criticised what he called the muted response from European governments, arguing that their silence further weakens the credibility of international law.
According to De Brabander, Europe’s failure to react decisively sends the wrong message. “If international law is ignored when it is inconvenient, then it ceases to protect anyone,” he said, drawing applause from demonstrators.
He acknowledged Spain’s position as an exception within Europe, noting that it was the only country to openly resist US actions against Venezuela. De Brabander praised Madrid for taking a principled stand, while urging other European nations to follow suit.
“We must uphold international law and not regress to a 19th-century world order, where powerful states impose their will through force,” he told the crowd, warning against a return to imperial-style geopolitics.
The protest also highlighted Belgium’s role as host to major international institutions, including the European Union and NATO. Several speakers argued that this places a special responsibility on the Belgian government to defend multilateralism and the rule of law.
“Belgium must also adopt a much firmer stance,” De Brabander said, calling on Brussels to openly denounce what he described as American manoeuvres and to work within the EU to form a united response.
The demonstration remained peaceful throughout, with a visible police presence monitoring the gathering. No incidents were reported, and the crowd dispersed after several hours of speeches and chanting.
While the protest is unlikely to alter US policy in the short term, organisers said it was an important symbolic act. They argued that public demonstrations are essential to keeping international law and accountability at the centre of global political debate.
As tensions surrounding Venezuela continue to rise, the Brussels protest underscored deep divisions over how the international community should respond, and whether principles of sovereignty and legality can withstand mounting geopolitical pressure.
