The recent US-led intervention in Caracas, orchestrated by the administration of Donald Trump, represents a flagrant and unlawful breach of international norms. While the act of forcibly removing President Nicolás Maduro was a vigilante action that must be condemned, the international community now faces a more pressing task. It must work urgently to stabilise the volatile situation and help the oppressed and impoverished people of Venezuela reclaim their democracy.
A Dangerous Precedent and a Flawed Justification
The premise for this regime change operation has been widely criticised as deeply flawed. Drawing parallels with the false pretexts used for past invasions, the claim that capturing Maduro was a necessary police action against a 'narco-state' feeding America's drug habit is viewed as preposterous. While Venezuela under Maduro has been a gangster state, the majority of illegal drugs entering the US come from Mexico, and America's opioid crisis is primarily rooted in prescription abuse.
This adventurism also strips the United States of any claim to moral high ground over leaders like Vladimir Putin or Xi Jinping. Trump's assertion of US power in Caracas, declaring an intention to "run the country" during a transition, reflects a cynical, imperialist view of Latin America as a US sphere of influence, mirroring the power politics of his counterparts.
The Immediate Imperative: Stabilisation and Democracy
The central criticism of Trump's move is that it constitutes a gross violation of a sovereign state's affairs with no humanitarian imperative. History, from Latin America to the Middle East, shows such interventions often worsen conditions. The real danger for Venezuela now is a descent into greater instability or even civil war, a scenario for which the US has shown no appetite to manage long-term.
Therefore, rebuke is not enough. The international community, ideally through the United Nations and the Organisation of American States, must act quickly. The first days following such a coup are critical in determining whether a country slides into anarchy.
Turning Crisis into Opportunity for Venezuelans
There is a potential path forward. The legitimate opposition, led by Maria Corina Machado – the winner of last year's Nobel Peace Prize – represents a democratic alternative, though Trump has dismissively questioned her domestic support. The world's energy must now focus on leveraging this crisis to benefit the Venezuelan people.
The goal must be a swift, internationally-backed process to restore democratic rule and the rule of law. This crisis, born of reckless action, must not be wasted. The priority is to ensure it becomes an opportunity to end the suffering of the Venezuelan population and return their country to a stable, democratic future.
