US Military Intervention in Venezuela Marks a Return to Historical Patterns of Influence in Latin America
The United States launched a military bombardment of Venezuela resulting in the capture and detention of President Nicolás Maduro, who was transported to New York. This marks the first direct US military attack on a South American country, signaling a significant shift in the country's foreign and defense policy.
President Trump declared that US dominance in the western hemisphere would no longer be questioned. This intervention is framed within a new national security strategy that calls for an expanded US military presence in the region, described as a Trump corollary to the Monroe Doctrine. It follows a long legacy of US involvement in Latin America, including the Mexican-American War (1847-1848), the 1898 occupations related to Cuba and Guantánamo Bay, the occupation of Haiti from 1915 to 1934, and the 1989 invasion of Panama to capture Manuel Noriega, among others.
Analysts caution that such interventions rarely result in lasting peace or democratic stability, instead often producing enduring problems with political succession. The Trump administration's approach emphasizes an "America-for-Americans" policy in the western hemisphere.
The future of Venezuela remains uncertain, with US officials indicating they will administer the country until a proper political transition can be established.
