US imperialism, the position of Venezuela, and humanity

In an interview with the New York Times (NYT) in the Oval Office (January 9, 2026), US President Donald Trump said the following regarding the limits of US authority in the international system: "I don't need international law. The only thing that can stop me is my own morality, my own mind." One day before this interview, the US, under Trump's signature, had withdrawn from 66 international organizations, including 31 United Nations agencies. At the beginning of February, Trump also stated, "We will not invade Greenland, we will buy it. I never wanted to make Greenland the 51st state. I want to make Canada the 51st state. Greenland will be the 52nd state, and Venezuela could be the 53rd state."

Considering that the US attacked and bombed Venezuela on January 3, and dragged the country's elected, legitimate leader out of his bed in the middle of the night along with his wife to kidnap him, it is evident that US imperialism has raised the stakes in aggression, barbarism, banditry, piracy, thuggery, and tyranny. Indeed, while Trump says, "We will govern Venezuela," his ministers have stated that the US will indefinitely extract, process, and sell the oil of Venezuela, which possesses the world's richest reserves. Beyond oil, the US is seizing Venezuela's precious metals and rare elements, and it does not even feel the need to hide this. Moreover, Venezuela will henceforth conduct all its imports from the US. 

We know what the embargoes (including medical supplies, medicine, food, and baby formula) and economic sanctions that the US imposes on countries it has targeted and set its sights on lead to. We have seen and continue to see this in Cuba, Venezuela, Iran, and Syria. We also know that the US feels not the slightest shame or regret for this. 

So much so that Trump threatens the world by intimidating Cuba, Mexico, Colombia, and Panama, and by referencing the 1823 Monroe Doctrine (the doctrine that says America is for the Americans). He is not satisfied; he says he will attack Iran. This is not enough; he wants Canada, a NATO member, to join the US and become a US state. This is not enough either. He says he will seize Greenland, which is territory of Denmark, a member of both NATO and the EU. He first proposes to buy it with money, and emphasizes that if that does not work, he will send troops and occupy Greenland to take it.  

While threatening Iran, Trump underscores how important Israel's security is for the US. Along with Israel, the UK, one of the US's two strategic allies, also supports all kinds of US banditry. Indeed, it immediately seized Venezuela's money in British banks. Switzerland did the same. 

We also know the support the US provides to the PKK – PYD – YPG – SDG and FETÖ terrorist organizations. 

The US disregards international law, the fundamental principles, rules, and values of international relations, and the sovereign equality, independence, integrity, and political unity of countries. In the Venezuela attack, US President Trump also violated US domestic law because there was no congressional approval. 

With its banditry in Venezuela and by kidnapping Maduro, the US sent a message to China. This is because China stands out as one of the most important customers for Venezuelan oil, in addition to its increasing influence in Latin America in recent years, its investments, and its developing commercial and diplomatic relations. The US also sent a message to Russia. Because Russia also has close diplomatic relations with Venezuela. It also sent a message to African, Middle Eastern, and Asian countries, and broadly to Global South countries, that have established close relations with China and Russia in recent years and have been moving closer to the BRICS platform. Trump essentially showed this: "I recognize no limits in my banditry; do not get too close to China and Russia, and do not trust them too much."

Although the US is itself a significant oil producer and seller, and is taking important steps in LNG and shale gas sales, it is acting more aggressively because its share in world trade is decreasing and the share of the US dollar in global trade is declining. It is deploying its armed power more frequently. The US may take further steps in the coming period to exert pressure on other countries' energy resources, energy transport lines, and the energy suppliers of China, the US's biggest rival. 

In summary, on the third day of the second quarter of the 21st century, what has happened to Venezuela, which has a surface area of 917 thousand square kilometers and a population reaching 30 million, stands before us as an important test not only on an ideological and political level, but also on a humanitarian, moral, and conscientious level.