Invasion with eyes set on liquid gold

The new year started on an ominous note in Latin America. US President Donald Trump, a self-proclaimed pacifist and Nobel aspirant known for ending wars across the globe, conducted a military attack on Venezuela to take President Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, hostage. The sheer violation of the sovereignty of another independent country shocked the world on the third day of the new year. Maduro was arrested, handcuffed and brought to New York to face trial, accused of being responsible for Venezuela's massive drug trafficking to the United States.

The narrative had similarities with the US arrest of Saddam Hussein that took place almost two decades ago. The US reasoned that Iraq was developing nuclear weapons. However, even years after Saddam Hussein was hanged, the United States has not been able to produce any evidence to substantiate this allegation. Many authoritative reports from the United States revealed that those allegations were a concocted lie. The United States is implementing the brutal policy of " it's easy to find a stick to beat a dog" through such invasions.

Venezuela is far from an ideal governed state, but it is no hub of drug trafficking. Mexico, Colombia, and Cuba have more reported cases of drug menace than Caracas. Instead of taking strong measures to stop this drug trafficking through American shores and elsewhere, the US is using the drug allegation as an opportunity to impose its imperialist hegemony. In addition to the narco-terrorism conspiracy and the cocaine import conspiracy, the US is making ridiculous allegations that Venezuela is also in possession of weapons. These allegations are likely fabricated by the Trump administration to mislead the American people. Before carrying out coups, the US follow the modus operandi to install a puppet government in those selected countries. In Venezuela, too, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez is being used as a 'puppet' to carry out the interim government.

Former Foreign Minister Delcy is also in charge of the Petroleum Department. From this, it is clear what made the US go for a military mission in Venezuela all of a sudden. 18 per cent of the world's oil reserves are in Venezuela. Trump's goal is to make billions of dollars in profits by extracting this oil through US-based multinational companies and selling it to countries of his choice around the world. This invasion is also a threat to stop the growing influence of China and Russia in Latin American countries. The act of invading a country, capturing its elected president, handcuffing and taking him to your country cannot be justified under any pretext.