Maduro's Arrest Imminent

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A United States Attack Helicopter. Photo by Defence Images

The United States has deployed Combat Ships, Navy Destroyers, aircraft, helicopters, Coast Guard Cutters and surveillance aircraft from the US Air Force into and over the Caribbean Sea – close to or within proximity of Venezuela.

The Trump administration has claimed that this is an effort to fight the trafficking of drugs to the United States, but it is easy to deduce that the United States has something more up its sleeve. In 2019, the United States’ attempt to invade Venezuela and arrest Maduro were frustrated after Brazil refused to allow US troops into the state of Roraima.

Furthermore, several US allies had signaled unwillingness to join in a war against Venezuela.

The United States even went as far as trying to invoke the Rio Treaty signed with the Organization of American States. The Rio Treaty, signed in 1947, is a military alliance which states that an attack against one member state is an attack against all, and demands military reciprocation from all states in the event that one state is attacked. In this context, the United States sent troops to the border with Colombia in an effort to escalate tensions with Venezuela. Maduro responded by sending troops, tanks and rocket launchers to the border with Colombia.

This showdown did not get past the stage of a cold war. Everyone held their breath knowing that any exchange of fire between Venezuela and Colombia would quickly escalate into an all-out war between the two countries – invoking the Rio Treaty and forcing other nations to join the United States in toppling Maduro. But Colombia and Venezuela are sister countries – they are not just geographically close, but also share strong brotherly ties. In fact, Colombia has allowed millions of Venezuelan refugees to cross over.

When Maduro sent troops to the border with Colombia – almost all Venezuelans were confident that this would never escalate into actual fighting because of the friendly bonds existing between the two countries. Nevertheless, the Colombian president, Ivan Duque, has time and time again expressed his disgust for Maduro – who has in turn accused the Colombian president of plotting with the United States to invade Venezuela. Ivan Duque has called Nicolas Maduro a “madman” and “threat to the entire region.”

All other options to attack Venezuela having failed, the Trump administration has leveled new charges against Maduro, accusing him of narco terrorism, of channeling drugs into the United States and thereby destroying the lives of Americans. A few days after the allegations, the United States has sent Warships into Venezuela’s backyard. It is clear indication that the United States is once again setting the stage for a military invasion.

But the question here is, “will it be successful?” If we abstract from the United States‘ actions in Iraq – in 2003, in the war to arrest Saddam Hussain, it is easy to see that when the United States is bent on doing something, they do regardless of what the world thinks. And the United States sure as hell seems bent on removing Maduro from power.