Trump’s Venezuela Gambit: A Return to Interventionism?
The United States’ military presence near Venezuela has raised concerns that the Trump administration might be preparing for significant military action against President Nicolás Maduro’s government. This comes despite Trump’s public image as a peacemaker, not a warmonger. The situation is complex, with the potential for another U.S. foreign entanglement.
The Official Narrative and Underlying Motives
The official U.S. narrative claims that Maduro’s regime, with its close ties to Russia, China, and Iran, is involved in drug trafficking to the United States. This has led the U.S. Navy to bomb alleged drug-running vessels in recent months, resulting in casualties. International law experts question the legitimacy of these actions.
However, Trump’s goals likely extend beyond drug control. He aims to bring the Caribbean under complete U.S. influence, countering any foreign presence in the Western Hemisphere, echoing the principles of the Monroe Doctrine (1823), which viewed external interference in Latin American countries as a threat to U.S. national security.
Escalation and Historical Precedents
Trump is currently tightening the screws on Venezuela, authorizing the CIA to conduct covert operations on Venezuelan soil. Concurrently, the USS Gerald Ford, one of the world’s most advanced aircraft carriers, is heading towards the Venezuelan coast, and U.S. Marines are conducting exercises in Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela’s neighbor. These actions signal a potential escalation beyond mere pressure, possibly mirroring the invasions of Grenada by President Ronald Reagan in 1983 and Panama by President George H.W. Bush in 1989, which led to the arrest of Manuel Noriega on drug trafficking charges.
A Pattern of Intervention
This potential intervention adds to a long history of U.S. military interventions in Latin America when Washington perceives a regime as no longer aligning with its interests. The U.S. State Department’s offer of a $50 million reward for information leading to Maduro’s capture, coupled with crippling economic sanctions, indicates the groundwork for a broader operation. The accusations include drug trafficking and the use of Venezuelan prisoners in the United States.
The Unintended Consequences of Intervention
Historically, U.S. military interventions in Latin American countries have not improved the lives of the citizens. Instead, these interventions have often led to the establishment of dictatorial regimes. For example, the CIA’s role in overthrowing the democratically elected Salvador Allende in Chile in the 1970s led to the establishment of an authoritarian military regime under General Augusto Pinochet, which lasted for decades. U.S. intelligence has also supported extremist right-wing opposition groups in South America, which committed horrific massacres against civilians.
Trump views Nayib Bukele’s government in El Salvador as a model. Bukele has opened prisons in his country to receive illegal immigrants deported from the United States. Trump has not hesitated to impose severe sanctions on Colombian President Gustavo Petro for refusing to follow Bukele’s example, resulting in increased tariffs.
A Questionable Future
Trump’s potential Venezuelan venture might not succeed, given the historical outcomes of similar actions in the region. Despite the military imbalance, U.S. forces could likely overcome the Venezuelan military. However, the crucial question remains: to what extent can a U.S. invasion of Venezuela improve the lives of its citizens and bring about a significant transformation in their living conditions? History suggests that this outcome is not what awaits Venezuela.
Source: Annahar
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