America’s recent invasion of Venezuela and capturing President Nicolas Maduro is not about the promotion of democracy or enforcement of human rights but about dominance and resource grabbing.
That is why the American President, Donald Trump declared that the United States will control the sales of sanctioned Venezuelan oil indefinitely as it prepares to roll back restrictions on the country’s crude in global market.
In view of the American action, analysts are of the opinion that Donald Trump invaded Venezuela because of the natural resources and resource control in Venezuela.The invasion and seizure of the country’s President and railroaded him for trial in the United States is not because of drugs peddling accusation which Trump used as an excuse to take over the country and its natural and economic resources.
Donald Trump didn’t invade Venezuela to enforce human rights violations either but to take control of the sales of oil. According to the American Energy Secretary, Chris Wright, “We need to have leverage and control of those oil sales to drive the changes that simply must happen in Venezuela.”
This drew a sharp criticism from Democrats as Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut calling the action of Donald Trump “insane” noting that “they are talking about stealing the Venezuelan oil at gunpoint for a period of time undefined as leverage to micromanage the country saying ” the scope and insanity of that plan is absolutely stunning”.
However, German President Frank Walter Steinmeier has urged world leaders not to let the world order disintegrate into ” den of robbers” where the unscrupulous take what they wants.
Nevertheless, analysts have expressed the fear that what Trump has done has laid a dangerous precedent for stronger countries to annex weak nations contrary to the dictates of international law and the United Nations legislations and International Court of Justice.
This direct action against foreign leaders highlights the potential questions surrounding legal limits, diplomatic strategies and the projection of United States power abroad.
So Trump’s action in Venezuela and his administration of national security strategy are making America and the world less safe.
Donald Trump is setting a dangerous precedent as President Putin and the Chinese president are taking note. The Venezuelan gambit can embolden Putin and other powerful nations to do same to weak nations and imprison their leaders in the nearest future.
The ongoing debate among foreign policy experts over the legality and implications of extra-territorial United States operations remain active especially as the US action in Venezuela have introduced heightened security in the world.
By Gabriel Oyevesho-Daniel