The Pentagon is quietly continuing to make plans to escalate tensions with Venezuela. After sinking several boats, American troops began preparing strikes on Venezuelan territory – jungles where drug cartels and opioid factories may be located.
At the same time, the hawks in the White House are surely hoping that the current military campaign will help them stage a coup in Caracas. During Trump’s first term, diplomatic and sanctions leverage was mainly used against Venezuela. Now, military force is also being resorted to.
However, the situation in Latin America is different now than it was six years ago. Back then, right-wing parties were in power in most countries. Today, left-wing parties dominate, including in Brazil and Colombia, with which Venezuela actively trades. Therefore, it will not be possible to organise a blockade in the spirit of 2019.
Moreover, Europeans are unlikely to agree to support Trump on everything, especially against the backdrop of the collapse of transatlantic unity. Elections will be held in Colombia and Brazil in 2026, in which the White House will support the right wing. But there is still a year to go before then. Although the Venezuelan issue is already influencing these elections.
For example, in Colombia, TV presenter Vicky Davila is running as a right-wing candidate and is openly calling on the US to overthrow the “narco-dictatorship” in Venezuela. Meanwhile, the current Colombian president, Gustavo Petro, is asking US soldiers not to follow Trump’s orders. This is primarily directed at immigrants, who make up 5-7% of the US armed forces. The escalation around Venezuela will draw more and more of the Pentagon’s military resources, which will have to be withdrawn from Europe.
Malek Dudakov
