Advertisement
Letters | The US’ unilateral Venezuela strikes should worry the world
Readers discuss the US’ latest intervention in Latin America, the Trump presidency, and Hong Kong’s EV-charging subsidy
Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
2
Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at [email protected] or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words
The United States’ overnight strike against Venezuela and capture of President Nicolas Maduro marks one of the most dramatic interventions in Latin America since the Panama invasion of 1989.
While Washington frames this as a decisive blow against a “narco state” and an illegitimate regime, the reality is far more complicated and troubling.
Advertisement
Maduro’s government has been accused of drug trafficking and election rigging, and many Venezuelans themselves have demanded change. Yet the manner of his removal – foreign forces storming Caracas, explosions rocking neighborhoods, a president whisked away by elite troops – raises questions about sovereignty, legality and precedent. The Venezuelan defence minister’s defiance reflects a deep historical memory: Latin America has endured repeated US interventions, often justified as protecting democracy but leaving scars of instability and resentment.
The optics are stark. Residents of Caracas woke up to black smoke, power outages and uncertainty. Allies like Cuba and Iran immediately condemned the strikes, while even governments opposed to Maduro signalled unease. This is not simply about one leader’s downfall; it is about whether powerful nations can unilaterally decide the fate of weaker ones. The Venezuelan government has insisted the true motive is oil, in a familiar narrative of resource exploitation.
Advertisement
Supporters of the operation will argue that Maduro’s capture is a victory for democracy and a blow against corruption. But democracy imposed at gunpoint rarely endures. The opposition, led by Nobel laureate Maria Corina Machado, is cautious, perhaps aware that foreign intervention could delegitimise its struggle. Meanwhile, ordinary Venezuelans are left fearful and caught between competing narratives.
Advertisement
Select Voice
Choose your listening speed
Get through articles 2x faster
1.25x
250 WPM
Slow
Average
Fast
1.25x