A new phase of military aggression has emerged as U.S. warships gather off the coast of Venezuela. The Progressive International has condemned this escalation, warning that the United States is reviving the discredited Monroe Doctrine under the guise of anti-drug operations, reports 24brussels.
The deployment includes the USS Lake Erie, a guided-missile cruiser, alongside the USS Newport News, a nuclear-powered attack submarine, joining a larger amphibious assault group with 4,500 troops. This is not merely a routine naval exercise but a clear instance of gunboat diplomacy, marking a significant intensification of hybrid warfare against the Bolivarian Republic.
Officially framed as a campaign against “narco-terrorism,” the true objective is the undermining of Venezuela’s sovereignty and the intimidation of any Latin American government that opposes U.S. hegemony. The timing of this military build-up coincides with recent U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi’s announcement of a $50 million bounty on President Nicolás Maduro, linking him to drug trafficking in accusations dismissed by many legal experts as politically charged and unfounded.
The military buildup in the southern Caribbean underscores ongoing economic and political attacks on Venezuela, characterized by sanctions that have decimated living standards and led to dire humanitarian conditions. Since Hugo Chávez assumed power in 1999, Venezuela has faced a relentless U.S. campaign, including covert operations, diplomatic isolation, and economic warfare. Sanctions between 2012 and 2020 reportedly caused a staggering 93% drop in oil revenues and resulted in over 40,000 deaths due to related deprivations.
Geopolitical Context: The Monroe Doctrine Reborn
This current U.S. military maneuvering must be seen as part of a wider imperial strategy in Latin America, resembling the Monroe Doctrine of 1823, which declared the region as a U.S. sphere of influence. Today’s interpretation of this doctrine is militarized, targeting nations asserting their independence and challenging American dominance.
Instances of U.S. aggression towards sovereign nations like Venezuela are not isolated; they occur alongside threats aimed at countries maintaining their autonomy, including Panama, Mexico, Colombia, and Honduras. Each act of defiance from these nations is met with intimidation and sanctions, reinforcing the notion that the U.S. continues to treat Latin America as its “backyard.”
A Sovereign South America vs. Imperial Domination
The overarching aim of the U.S. escalation in Venezuela extends beyond a single nation; it targets the fundamental concept of a united, independent Latin America. Historical precedents, such as the support for the military coup in Brazil during 1964, evoke an unsettling reminder of U.S. military intervention techniques employed to secure a regime change that aligns with its interests.
However, this aggressive posture does not go unchallenged. An increasing wave of continental resistance is emerging as Latin American nations engage in protests and diplomatic coalitions aimed at reclaiming their sovereignty. The Progressive International stands firmly in solidarity with these movements, condemning the military escalation and urging global rejection of U.S. intervention.
The threat of direct aggression against Venezuela represents not an isolated incident, but the commencement of a broader campaign aimed at reaffirming U.S. dominance throughout the hemisphere. To prevent history from repeating itself, it is vital for the international community to support the Venezuelan struggle for sovereignty and resist imperialist ambitions.
