In the early hours of Saturday, January 3, the United States initiated airstrikes in Venezuela, causing significant reverberations worldwide.
In a clandestine operation conducted without prior notice to British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, US forces successfully apprehended Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, at their Fort Tiuna military base in Caracas. Subsequently, Maduro was transferred to the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn, where he awaits a court appearance in Manhattan on various charges, including Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, following an operation that resulted in the reported deaths of over 40 civilians and military personnel.
The White House’s response to this significant event has been notably casual, with the sharing of celebratory memes that seemingly glorify the capture. One meme, featuring the phrase “FAFO” alongside an image of President Trump, was posted on X. The acronym, which stands for “f*** around and find out,” was used by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth during a press conference discussing Maduro.
The motivation behind this intervention and the subsequent announcement that Venezuela will be overseen by members of President Trump’s cabinet raise questions. The Mirror delves into the reasons for these actions.
Tensions between the US and Venezuela have been escalating since President Trump’s return to the Oval Office nearly a year ago. The Trump administration has refused to acknowledge Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate leader and had previously offered a $50 million reward for his capture.
The situation intensified in September when US forces began targeting vessels suspected of smuggling drugs into the US from South America. More than 30 operations have been conducted in the Caribbean and the Pacific, resulting in over 110 fatalities, according to BBC News.
Trump has accused Maduro of being a key figure in the ‘Cartel de los Soles’ drug cartel, allegedly involved in drug trafficking to the US. However, no concrete evidence has been presented to substantiate these claims.
During an interview with Fox News, Trump asserted that the operation aimed at curbing drug influx into the US. Despite Venezuela’s role as a transit point for drugs, the actual volume of narcotics entering the US from the country is relatively small.
Trump has repeatedly alleged that Venezuela is sending a high number of migrants, including criminals, to the US, without providing evidence to support his claims.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed Trump’s views on social media, emphasizing Maduro’s alleged association with the Cartel de Los Soles and drug trafficking.
Maduro has vehemently denied the charges leveled against him, accusing the US of using the “war on drugs” as a pretext to seize Venezuela’s oil reserves, among the largest globally, exceeding 300 billion barrels.
The Venezuelan government has condemned what it perceives as a US-led aggression aimed at exploiting the country’s natural resources for American benefit.
Following Maduro’s arrest, Trump announced the US’s significant involvement in Venezuela’s oil sector, with American oil companies poised to take part in infrastructure development and resource extraction.
Trump indicated that Venezuela will be managed by members of his cabinet, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, highlighting the potential cooperation with Vice President Delcy Rodriguez for a smooth transition of power.
This development affords Trump an opportunity to assert dominance in Latin America, reshaping the region to align with his vision, particularly in contrast to leaders with differing ideologies.
Maduro is set to appear before a federal court to face charges related to drug trafficking, illegal arms dealing, and other criminal activities.
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