On August 11, 2017, US President Trump declared that the US had “many options for Venezuela, including a possible military option if necessary”. This follows the imposing of sanctions on Venezuela by the US.
The threat to use military force to overthrow the government of Venezuela and establish a pro-US regime in its place marks a new phase of escalation of brutal and systematic interference that it has carried on against the people of that country for many years. It is an open threat to the sovereignty of Venezuela and its people.
Ever since the present regime came to power in Venezuela in 1999, and attacked some of the interests of US imperialism in that country, the US has been plotting to regain its position by carrying out a regime change.The US has always considered the countries of Latin America as its ‘backyard’ whose people and resources could be exploited and plundered at will.In this background, Venezuela has further angered the US by joining hands with Cuba, Bolivia, Nicaragua and other countries of Latin America to try to build an economic and political alliance that could lead to the weakening of US domination over the continent.
To achieve its aims in Venezuela, the US has covertly as well as overtly supported various factions of the bourgeoisie to destablise that country. Over the past three years, the collapse of international oil prices has adversely affected, the Venezuelan economy. Venezuela is heavily dependent on the export of oil, and on import of many essential consumer goods. The US has used this situation to brutally interfere in the economy, ensuring that the prices of various necessities rise sky high, and lead to general dissatisfaction amongst the people. As a result of all this, Venezuela is faced with a deep crisis.
The Venezuelan people, as a sovereign people, are demanding that they must be allowed to solve their economic and political problems themselves, free of outside interference. The brutal US interference in the economy and politics of Venezuela deserves to be sternly condemned.
The US threat to militarily aggress upon Venezuela has been denounced by the governments of many countries of Latin America, including the MERCASUR economic bloc. Venezuelan foreign minister Jorge Arreaza said on August 12, “We want to express gratitude for all the expressions of solidarity and rejection of the use of force from governments around the world, including Latin America.”