US President Donald Trump has long sought to cultivate an image as a peacemaker, claiming to have ended eight wars, including the conflict between India and Pakistan, and even presenting himself as a potential Nobel Peace Prize recipient. However, on the third day of the new year, he ordered a military operation in Venezuela, resulting in the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. This action has sparked global unrest. The operation, carried out by the US military, faced no resistance and represents a direct use of force against a sovereign nation—an unmistakable display of American hegemony. It constitutes a violation of international law and poses a serious threat to global peace and security. Opinions on the attack are deeply divided, and with the United Nations largely ineffective, its voice holds little sway.
Through this aggressive move, Trump has sent a clear message not only to Latin American nations but also to China and Russia: any country that does not follow US directives risks facing a coup. During his second term, Trump authorized a total of 622 bombings abroad, targeting countries such as Syria, Nigeria, Iran, Somalia, Yemen, and Iraq. In a similar pattern, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was appointed head of Bangladesh’s interim government at Trump’s behest, effectively serving as a US-aligned figure. Trump appears to be pursuing a comparable strategy in Venezuela.
Underlying the attack on Venezuela are the country’s vast natural resources. Venezuela holds the world’s largest oil reserves, estimated at over 303 billion barrels, though sanctions have largely prevented their exploitation. Additionally, the country possesses significant reserves of gold and natural gas. Currently, Venezuela’s exports of these resources are minimal, but if the US gains access, it could reduce dependence on Middle Eastern oil, strengthen its energy market, and secure its own reserves.
Geopolitical developments in Venezuela also concern the US. Since the nationalization of its oil industry, Venezuela has deepened ties with China and Russia, receiving billions in aid, often in exchange for oil. The country has also acquired weapons and security equipment from Russia, China, Iran, and Cuba. In this context, the Trump administration appears intent on reasserting its influence across South America by pressuring Venezuela. Nicolás Maduro has long been a challenge for Trump, particularly after seizing the assets of American oil companies. The US has repeatedly accused Maduro of running drug cartels and facilitating the smuggling of dangerous drugs into American territory.
Trump also alleges that Maduro’s policies have forced millions of Venezuelan citizens to leave the country and seek refuge in the US. The US has been targeting boats allegedly carrying drugs for the past few days, but narcotics experts say that Venezuela is a very minor player in drug trafficking. It is true that Maduro’s rule is illegitimate, but that is an internal matter. Trump’s real motive is the oil game. The US has played such destructive games before, but when we look back at history, we see a different story. Thousands of innocent people were killed in the Vietnam War. The war in Afghanistan lasted 20 years, and Afghan citizens are still suffering its consequences. Iraq was devastated based on false intelligence. This is what gave rise to the Islamic State. Innocent children were killed in airstrikes. Yet, no international organization has held the US, the orchestrator of all this, accountable. The ICC has not issued an arrest warrant against any American president. For example, in March 2003, then-US President George W. Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq, claiming that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction. Based on this claim, the US launched its military operation. Saddam was arrested and hanged, and then the US admitted that the claim about chemical weapons was false and that they had found no such weapons in Iraq.
The US invaded Libya, killed Colonel Gaddafi, and orchestrated a coup. Every country the US has intervened in has been left devastated. The US has, in a sense, seized control of Venezuela. Trump wants to install a puppet government there, led by a leader who will follow his orders. New York City Mayor Jumaane Williams has called the US action to apprehend President Maduro an act of war. The US opposition party and Kamala Harris have also opposed the American action. Trump has threatened to prosecute and punish Maduro. It’s difficult to predict how the world will react to this, as the world is already divided over the Israel-Hamas and Russia-Ukraine wars. Major countries make a lot of pronouncements, but no one supports any country against the major powers. The examples of Palestine and Ukraine are before us. The world is operating according to the principle of “might makes right.” It remains to be seen how much help China, Russia, and Brazil will provide to Venezuela. Countries around the world need to be vigilant and strengthen their own defenses, otherwise, the bloody history of American intervention in other countries will continue to repeat itself. I have written many times before that if there is a threat to world peace, it is the United States. In the name of peace, it has consistently played a game of destruction. Only time will tell if its next target will be Iran. The struggle for dominance will continue.
