Showdown at the United Nations Security Council Over Venezuela

 

By David Starr

 

The threats and aggression coming out of the United States’ imperial foreign policy is nothing new. In fact, it’s an inherent part of that policy. 

 

Venezuela historically has been a recipient of U.S. empire’s objectives. For decades it was a U.S. market satellite in typical fashion for nations of the Global South who have experienced U.S. imperialism. 

 

Venezuela’s leaders were pliable to U.S. “interests,” sacrificing the stability of their country for their greedy objectives. And, in turn, for the U.S. empire to take advantage of that situation by having private, monopoly control over Venezuela’s land, labor and resources.

 

Then came 1998, when Hugo Chavez was elected president of Venezuela and things began to change dramatically, establishing and developing a Bolivarian Revolution which was geared to the political and economic interests of the people, and not local elites. The U.S. empire acted in typical fashion with U.S media and government propaganda, as well as attempts at dirty dealings and bellowing threats. One way was an attempted coup against Chavez in 2002 which failed to prop up the interests of the local elites, and failing at regime change. 

 

Unfortunately, Chavez died of cancer in 2013, and Vice President Nicolas Maduro took the reins of power by being voted in and continued with the Bolivarian policies that resulted in some benefit and stability for the working class and the poor.

 

But U.S. hostility continued. Sanctions were imposed and there was an attempt by U.S. leaders to prop up Juan Guaido, a pliable U.S.-backed puppet who wanted to illegitimately put Venezuela back to being a market satellite of the U.S. empire. 

 

Maduro and the majority of the population resisted successfully but are now threatened by potential military aggression from the Trump regime. China and Russia came to the aid of Venezuela and warned the U.S. empire not to follow through with an all-out war. That would cause gross instability not only in Venezuela but in the Latin American and Caribbean region. 

 

The members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) have had heated talks about the Venezuela situation. Many nations support Venezuela in protecting its sovereignty. To no surprise, the United States continues with its hostility and aggressive posture. Meanwhile, the United Nations has called for restraint. But Trump doesn’t know the meaning of the word. His ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel is simply slimy opportunism where Trump, in stroking his ego, tried to push for the receiving of the Nobel Peace Prize. A total farce.

 

The UNSC had Vasily Nebenzya, UN ambassador of Russia,  and the United States’ ambassador John Kelly speak in blatantly contradictory terms regarding Venezuela. Nebenzya condemned U.S. words and actions. (Although Russia did invade Ukraine, the historical events of the past explain the situation in the present.) Further, Chinese ambassador Fu Cong called for peace and also condemned the Trump regime’s actions. 

 

Meanwhile, Kelly, probably a token person of color, parroted the worn-out lies that the Trump regime has been spewing: Venezuela is a narco-terrorist nation, it’s president is a narco-terrorist, Venezuela sends vast amounts of narcotics into the United States, and, thus, is a threat to U.S. citizens. And, as usual, Trump and his ilk show no evidence of these claims. 

 

This is simply a “justification” to impose regime change and to exploit Venezuela’s oil, which is a huge resource. The biggest resource of oil in the world.

 

While the U.S. empire prioritizes provocations and potential confrontation within its exceptionalist foreign policy, Venezuela is fully prepared to defend itself. With the assistance of Russia, China, and perhaps, Iran, as well as the support it’s receiving from other nations, Venezuela is an important symbol of change in the world, defying the current U.S. dominated world order. Other nations of the Global South are also providing examples of defiance against the Trump regime and in turn the U.S. empire. It’s a matter of time.