The International Peace Bureau (IPB) firmly condemns the US military strikes in Venezuela, and the kidnapping of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife to stand trial in the US. This illegal act of war has already led to the death of civilians and military personnel alike and risks throwing both Venezuela and the wider Latin American and Caribbean region into greater instability and deeper conflict. Though the US claims that the military intervention is over, we must be wary of continued military and non-military intervention in Venezuela during this sensitive and volatile moment – as we have seen in past instances such as post-Gaddafi Libya, there is likely further instability to come.
The unprecedented removal of Maduro sets a dangerous precedent across the globe and represents a nail in the coffin for international law. These latest actions not only violate the United Nations Charter, including the use of force against territorial integrity, they also show world leaders that you can forcibly remove a foreign leader from power through abduction. This is a lesson that we may see repeated in other parts of the world by the dominant regional powers – whether in Ukraine, Taiwan, Iran, or elsewhere. Certainly, the Trump administrations actions bring further chaos and uncertainty into the global order.
Moreover, these actions set a provocative and deeply concerning precedent for relations across the Americas – one where the return of the Monroe Doctrine and its “Trump Corollary” prioritize brute force, bullying, imperialism, domination, and the seizure of national assets – particularly Venezeulan oil – by the United States, against the will of the peoples of the continent. We voice our strong opposition to these cynical and cruel policies.
The IPB calls on all peace-loving people, organizations, political parties, and trade unions to vocally oppose and mobilize in opposition to the US military escalation in Venezuela and across Latin America. Furthermore, we call on solidarity with the peoples of Latin America and an immediate cessation to all provocative military actions. Regional and international institutions including CELAC and the United Nations, as well as the larger international community, must also condemn these illegal US actions and hold the US accountable, while maintaining peace in the region. Furthermore, we reiterate the vital importance of international law to avoid a dangerous and chaotic race to the bottom.