<p>The United States’ strike on Venezuela, which killed at least 40, and the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, is a blatant violation of established international law as well as the US Constitution. The move also violates Article 2 of the UN Charter, which emphasises sovereign equality of member states and prohibits force against the territorial integrity of another state. </p><p>US President Donald Trump has harked back to the 200-year-old Monroe Doctrine, which entails a now-irrelevant foreign policy – an anti-colonialist measure, quoted and used perversely by US presidents in the 20th century. The unfounded charges of narco-terrorist activities are merely a ruse to project Maduro’s kidnapping as a police action for a farcical trial. There are no takers for this at home or abroad, except for Trump loyalists and tethered allies in Europe.</p>.<p>This is an act of aggression motivated by the US’s strategic interests, aligned with its new security strategy, and intended to check Russian and Chinese sway in the region. The attack, brazen in intent and method, will push the new regime to open up the nation’s oil reserves and mineral wealth. Trump has indicated that there could be more such action against Colombia, Cuba, Iran, and Greenland to capture strategic resources. However, the outcomes of such attacks are unpredictable, as the world saw the US make a mess in Libya and its neighbourhood, get bogged down in Iraq for ten years to no avail, and remain stuck in Afghanistan for 20 years before fleeing from their self-brewed stew under the cover of darkness. Obviously, little has been learnt from these colossal failures of both foreign policy and military occupation.</p>.<p>As the US witnessed elsewhere, the bombing and kidnapping of Maduro could become a rallying point in Venezuela, even for those disillusioned with his dictatorial ways. An invading foreigner has not been welcomed in most countries in the region. Besides, there are a lot of armed groups which may move in to bolster any popular resistance that gathers against the US action.</p><p> There is much at stake for others in the region if the US succeeds in its gamble in Venezuela. Equally important is how the world at large responds. Russia, China, Brazil, South Africa, and many G20 countries have been outspoken in their condemnation of the US action. India has remained silent and played safe until now on US transgressions. There are expectations that, as the chair of the BRICS in 2026 and a self-avowed leader of the G20, it would opt for remaining on the right side of history.</p>
<p>The United States’ strike on Venezuela, which killed at least 40, and the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, is a blatant violation of established international law as well as the US Constitution. The move also violates Article 2 of the UN Charter, which emphasises sovereign equality of member states and prohibits force against the territorial integrity of another state. </p><p>US President Donald Trump has harked back to the 200-year-old Monroe Doctrine, which entails a now-irrelevant foreign policy – an anti-colonialist measure, quoted and used perversely by US presidents in the 20th century. The unfounded charges of narco-terrorist activities are merely a ruse to project Maduro’s kidnapping as a police action for a farcical trial. There are no takers for this at home or abroad, except for Trump loyalists and tethered allies in Europe.</p>.<p>This is an act of aggression motivated by the US’s strategic interests, aligned with its new security strategy, and intended to check Russian and Chinese sway in the region. The attack, brazen in intent and method, will push the new regime to open up the nation’s oil reserves and mineral wealth. Trump has indicated that there could be more such action against Colombia, Cuba, Iran, and Greenland to capture strategic resources. However, the outcomes of such attacks are unpredictable, as the world saw the US make a mess in Libya and its neighbourhood, get bogged down in Iraq for ten years to no avail, and remain stuck in Afghanistan for 20 years before fleeing from their self-brewed stew under the cover of darkness. Obviously, little has been learnt from these colossal failures of both foreign policy and military occupation.</p>.<p>As the US witnessed elsewhere, the bombing and kidnapping of Maduro could become a rallying point in Venezuela, even for those disillusioned with his dictatorial ways. An invading foreigner has not been welcomed in most countries in the region. Besides, there are a lot of armed groups which may move in to bolster any popular resistance that gathers against the US action.</p><p> There is much at stake for others in the region if the US succeeds in its gamble in Venezuela. Equally important is how the world at large responds. Russia, China, Brazil, South Africa, and many G20 countries have been outspoken in their condemnation of the US action. India has remained silent and played safe until now on US transgressions. There are expectations that, as the chair of the BRICS in 2026 and a self-avowed leader of the G20, it would opt for remaining on the right side of history.</p>
