US Venezuela Conflict: Trump Hints at Second Strike
The watchdogs are out in new light! Former Trump said that a failure by Venezuelan government officials to fall in line with U.S. demands could bring about military action from the U.S. in the future.
On a recent visit to Florida, the President warned that U.S. military action against the Venezuelan regime of President Nicolas Maduro could happen “at any moment”. This is if the country doesn’t start “doing what American leaders want”.
The President has referred to a few past U.S. military operations performed recently against the Venezuelan regime. Arguing that they needed to occur in order to maintain peace, protect U.S. interests. Also, to provide stability in the hemisphere.
Referring to the Monroe Doctrine, Trump expressed that it is the responsibility of American leaders to ensure that foreign powers (e.g. Russia, Iran, etc.) don’t disrupt the peace in the Western Hemisphere. It will be by maintaining order and stability in our own backyard. He concluded his remarks by saying that if we want any degree of stability we must operate with strength and conviction!
The Adoption of Operation Total Determination
In an attempt to illustrate the impact of U.S. military action in Venezuela, Trump spoke of “Operation Total Determination”. The resulting capture of President Maduro and his wife Cilia. This intense military operation occurred in Caracas and was a combination of attacks from the air and on the ground, in a coordinated manner.
Trump has stated that none of the personnel were injured during the dangerous mission despite its risky nature. He has claimed that every objective was achieved and all the participants were able to return home safely. The purpose of the military power was to restore peace and order.
The situation is trending news today around the world. It is raising many questions about the US’s role and its effect on the sovereignty of Venezuela as a nation.
Nicolas Maduro and his wife face serious charges in the US
After their capture, Nicolas Maduro and Cilia Flores were detained by the US authorities. They are currently being held in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center. They will likely face charges in the Southern District of New York.
Also, the charges are for conspiracy to engage in narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, illegal possession of machine guns and explosives, and a conspiracy to possess illegal firearms. According to US officials, Maduro has led a drug trafficking organisation working closely with International Cartels.
Venezuela rejects the accusations, and tensions continue to rise
Maduro has consistently denied the accusations that he leads a drug cartel. He has claimed that the United States has used the “war on drugs” to politically attack Venezuela and undermine its leaders.
The enormous amount of oil reserves in Venezuela has caught the world’s eye. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Venezuela has about 303 billion barrels of proven reserves. It represents roughly 20% of the world’s total oil reserves, fuelling speculation on whether this could be one reason behind U.S. actions.
Trump’s statement has generated global response. It is because analysts are now debating whether this means that U.S. military intervention into Venezuela is imminent or simply a warning shot across Venezuela’s bow, and how far U.S. diplomacy will go in resolving issues between the two countries.
As the situation develops, current events reflect an ever-growing concern about the conflict between national security and international law, and the potential geopolitical impact this conflict may have within the context of U.S.-Venezuelan relations, and its potential effect on the global stability of those relations.
