RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat recently stated that the world respects strength, not just ideals. It seemed a truism but how right he was has become obvious with the US kidnapping of the Venezuelan President in a brutal exercise of power. Every principle of international relations and justice was thrown out of the window. The US President, Donald Trump, has openly declared that Venezuela will now be ‘run’ by his country with ‘local partners’. Many countries in South America and Europe, along with Russia and China have strongly opposed this action, but what can they do about it? The demand for the UN Security Council to take up the matter will only result in a pointless debate which, if it results in condemnation of Trump’s actions, will be vetoed by the US.
The United States has been interfering in the politics of South American nations since the 1890s to protect economic interests, keep out European influence, and prevent communist revolutions. Even now, President Trump is focused on Venezuela’s oil industry, promising that US companies will take it over and make profits for that country. He had declared this intention in his earlier term also, but could manage to use the narco-terrorism charge against Venezuelan President Nicola Maduro only now to achieve his purpose.
It is obvious that Maduro and his wife could not have been abducted in the manner they were without betrayal from within his own government. Why he did not or could not resist the abduction by giving up his own life is a matter of speculation, but that would have been a patriotic act that would have asserted his nation’s sovereignty.
It is also clear that, thus far, the United States’ judicial and legislative systems have failed in curbing Trump’s clear violations of the law and executive propriety. There is no doubt that the US military and intelligence system can carry out such operations in such an efficient manner but that does not mean they should. If the system within the country fails to castigate Trump and call a halt to such illegalities, there is no saying how much further harm he will cause to the global order.
It must be noted that the Venezuelan people have the absolute right to decide their future in their own way. If the opposition, which was forcibly kept out of power by Maduro collaborates with the US in this attempt to take over the nation, it will be a short-sighted act of betrayal that will ultimately do it more harm than good. If military strength is unavailable, then people’s resolve must serve the purpose. They must resist this new version of imperialism in every way possible.
