We begin 2026 with a rude reminder that we live in a different world where the rule of law and respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty can no longer be assumed. The military attack by the US on Venezuela and the capture of the oil-rich Latin American country’s leader, Nicholas Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores, has sent shockwaves around the world and brought into question the usefulness of such multilateral institutions as the UN and other bodies set up to resolve differences between countries. Whatever one might think of Maduro’s politics, or the legitimacy of his claim to the Venezuelan presidency given the controversy that shrouded that country’s last presidential elections, what is clear is that US President Donald Trump’s actions are a flagrant violation of international law.
Venezuela’s vice-president and now acting leader Delcy Rodriguez reacted to Trump’s remarks by saying her government was “ready to defend our natural resources” and declared Venezuela “shall never be a colony ever again”. This has obviously angered Trump, who has since warned if Rodriguez does not follow the US line “she’s going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro”. Chilling stuff.
The big question is what is the rest of the world going to do about this? It is not only about Venezuela but the principle of multilateralism and the creation of a rules-based world that is not run by might is right. If the US is allowed to do as it pleases in the hemisphere under its influence, what stops China from doing the same in, say, Taiwan?
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Russia’s President Vladimir Putin must be watching the developments in Latin America with glee, knowing they give his critics on his aggressive approach to Ukraine no real leg to stand on. Closer to home, Trump’s actions in Venezuela raise pressing questions about our own country’s relations with the US and the steps SA needs to take to protect itself. One is not suggesting the US is about to launch a military strike against a South African target or abduct our head of state. Far from it.
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