Trump invades Venezuela and says he will stay! What is going on? Venezuela has some of the worlds greatest oil reserves – is this a land grab? the excuse about drugs seems thin. Is it to deflect attention from the Epstein files? Is he giving Putin an excuse for Ukraine (fields of influence?).
It all seems rather strange – Venezuela is at the bottom of tables for freedom for its citizens – and a limited strike against drugs may have been acceptable under international law. Trump could be taking on a ‘Vietnam’ type scenario. MAGA supporters are unlikely to be enthusiastic as Trump has talked down foreign interventions.
The international community (democracies anyway) are unlikely to be enthusiastic either. No doubt Badenoch and Farage will offer support whilst Starmer ponders what to do? A big question is how China sees it – Taiwan should feel uncertain. Do Xi and Putin along with Trump view a tri-polar world? Or is Trump just lining his pockets and protecting his legacy from sleaze?
My view! – Venezuela was amongst least popular places to live; but is brute force all America has to offer? I suppose that under Trump the USA has lost influence, but surely it has more guile than an invasion. I know little but am aware that Colombia next door has extensive guerrilla forces that would likely be prepared to move in. Iran is weakened but not irrelevant. OPEC countries seem to have opaque policies, but are willing to take on conflicts amongst themselves like Yemen. I would also not dismiss an Israeli element here?