PNN – The attack on Venezuela and the arrest of Maduro, within the framework of Trump’s National Security document and with the aim of controlling Latin America geopolitically, containing rivals, and seizing the world’s largest oil reserves, was carried out without resorting to the narrative of democracy.
Sunday morning the people of Caracas woke up to the sound of several explosions. The extensive U.S. airstrikes on Venezuela, which culminated in the arrest of “Nicolás Maduro” and his wife, not only targeted an independent country but also became a symbol of an explicit return to 19th-century colonial policies. This action, which Washington called a “drug-fighting operation,” was in fact the first step in implementing the second Trump administration’s National Security document; a document that emphasizes the United States’ complete dominance over the entire American continent.
What was prominent in this attack was not merely a limited military operation, but the official announcement of the end of an era of even superficial respect for the national sovereignty of countries. “Donald Trump,” who has repeatedly spoken of the “Monroe Doctrine,” has now shown with this action that he considers the Western Hemisphere his own backyard and is willing to resort to any means, even direct war, to impose his will.
Washington’s Motivations; From Alleged Drug Interdiction to Seizing Oil.
The White House’s official narrative to justify this aggression is “the fight against drug trafficking.” “Susie Wiles,” Trump’s chief of staff, in an interview with “Vanity Fair” magazine late in December, had stated that her boss wants to “blow up so many boats until Maduro surrenders.” These remarks, referring to the campaign to destroy drug trafficking boats, were in fact a prelude to an attack with a much larger objective.
However, “Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez,” a Democratic Congresswoman, bluntly exposed this lie and emphasized: “It’s not about drugs, because if it were, Trump wouldn’t have pardoned one of the world’s largest drug traffickers last month.” She stressed that the root of Washington’s attack is the attempt to change Venezuela’s political system and gain control over its oil resources. Venezuela possesses the world’s largest proven oil reserves; approximately 304 billion barrels, concentrated mainly in the Orinoco Belt.
This country, with these vast reserves, has been in Washington’s crosshairs for years, but sanctions and economic pressures could not bring the Maduro government to its knees. Now, Trump has decided to directly and without any pretense, seize these resources.
The Venezuelan government stated in an official announcement: “The goal of this attack is nothing but the seizure of Venezuela’s strategic resources, especially its oil and minerals, and an attempt to eliminate the political independence of this country.” Russian military experts have also warned that the “Iraq model” is being implemented on Venezuela; a model in which an attack is first launched under security pretexts, then the country’s leadership is overthrown, and finally, natural resources are plundered.
“Lindsey Graham,” a Republican senator and a close ally of Trump, openly declared that this operation has “breathed new life into the Monroe Doctrine”; a doctrine that since the 19th century has been known as the basis for Washington’s opposition to the influence of rival powers such as China and Russia in the Western Hemisphere. Referring to the Trump administration’s new policy, he said: “There’s a new sheriff in town.” This sheriff, who considers itself the owner of the Western Hemisphere, has now also warned Cuba to “consider itself threatened.”
Trump’s National Security Document; the Roadmap for Seizing the Western Hemisphere.
The attack on Venezuela is not a sudden decision, but the precise execution of a part of the second Trump administration’s National Security document, which was published on December 4, 2025 (Azar 13, 1404). This document, introduced to the world as the “National Security Strategy of the United States of America,” is in fact a comprehensive plan for returning to the era of overt colonialism and seizing the entire American continent.
At the heart of this document lies what is called the “Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine”; the official declaration that the Western Hemisphere belongs to the United States and any country that dares to be independent and oppositional must face military consequences. The document explicitly states that a “reposturing of global military presence” is necessary to “confront immediate threats in our own hemisphere.”
What distinguishes this document from previous ones is its complete frankness in declaring colonial objectives. Unlike Trump’s 2017 document, which still used the language of “great power competition” with Russia and China, the 2025 document sees no need for concealment. In this document, America’s primary priority is declared as “dominance over the Western Hemisphere,” and it specifically emphasizes “the use of lethal force where necessary to combat cartels and secure borders.”
This was the groundwork that made the attack on Venezuela possible. The document clearly states that “targeted military operations” are on the agenda to secure borders and defeat cartels. But as the attack on Venezuela showed, this “targeted operation” in reality means overthrowing independent governments and seizing their natural resources.
The document also defines Latin America and the Caribbean as a region that must be completely under Washington’s control, and labels any Chinese or Russian influence in this region as a “primary national security threat.” This means that any country in Latin America that has economic or political relations with rival powers will find itself a potential target for U.S. military attacks.
It is noteworthy that the 2025 document, unlike the 2017 one, no longer mentions “promoting democracy” or “respecting human rights.” Instead, it clearly declares that America’s relations with countries will be based on “economic and commercial interests,” not democratic values. This fundamental shift reveals the true nature of American foreign policy without any pretense: power and wealth, not freedom and justice.
But what are the next steps? The document clearly warns that Venezuela is only the beginning. Cuba, which for decades has been a symbol of resistance against U.S. domination, is directly named in the document as “a threat to regional stability.” Nicaragua and Bolivia, which have leftist governments and close relations with Russia and China, are likely to be next in line.
The document also speaks of “security partnerships” with countries in the region; partnerships which in reality mean forming puppet governments and establishing military bases across Latin America. “Arms sales,” “intelligence sharing,” and “joint exercises” are all tools the document suggests for solidifying American dominance over the region.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) wrote in its analysis that this document “signifies an ideological and substantive shift in U.S. foreign policy.” The Brookings Institution also warned that “mass migration” is presented as the “greatest external threat to the United States,” even beyond China, Russia, or terrorism; a justification for further military interventions in Latin America.
The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) also stated that “the strategic clarity of great power competition with China and Russia that existed in the 2017 document has completely disappeared.” In its place, “economics” is presented as the “ultimate condition,” meaning the seizure of natural resources of other countries, including Venezuela’s oil.
In sum, Trump’s National Security document is, in fact, a roadmap for returning to the era of overt colonialism; an era in which Washington declares without pretense that the entire American continent is its property, and any country that dares to oppose it will face Maduro’s fate.
The Issue of Legalizing Blatant Aggression and the Consequences of Colonial War.
The American attack on Venezuela is a clear and blatant violation of the United Nations Charter and all principles of international law. Article 2 of the UN Charter explicitly prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any country. However, Washington has once again shown that it sees itself as above international law and can easily attack a sovereign nation, arrest its elected leader, and remove them from the country.
What is shocking about this attack is its rapid pace. Unlike Iraq, where the U.S. spent months trying to prepare world public opinion with lies about “weapons of mass destruction,” no effort was made for international justification regarding Venezuela. Trump, confident in his military power and with complete disregard for global reactions, ordered the attack directly.
“Paul Hare,” the retired British diplomat and interim director of Boston University’s Center for Latin American Studies, explains that the initial idea was to “reach an agreement with Maduro on the expulsion of migrants, perhaps get some oil concessions for the Americans, and do a kind of commercial deal that would allow him to stay in power.” However, Maduro did not surrender, and the result was a direct military attack.
Comparing this attack to Iraq in 2003 and Panama in 1989 makes it clear that America follows a fixed pattern: first sanctions, then black propaganda to delegitimize the target government, and finally military attack and forced regime change. In all three cases, the target country’s natural resources and geopolitical position have been the primary motivation, not what Washington has declared as justification.
The Venezuelan government emphasized in its statement that “after more than 200 years of independence, its people and their legitimate government remain steadfast in defending their sovereignty and their undeniable right to self-determination.” This statement reflects the Venezuelan people’s decision to resist the colonial war; a war whose objective is not freedom and democracy, but the seizure of oil and domination over resources.
The bitter reality is that Washington no longer even tries to hide its aggressions. Trump and his aides openly speak of the “Monroe Doctrine”; a doctrine that sees Latin America as the United States’ backyard. This return to the colonial policies of the 19th century marks the end of an era of even feigning respect for the national sovereignty of countries.
History has shown that American military interventions in Latin America have never brought democracy or prosperity, but have instead left decades of instability, violence, and poverty in their wake. Venezuela is now on the path to the same fate experienced by Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan; countries that, with promises of freedom and democracy, were plunged into fire and blood and saw their resources plundered.