The threat to Venezuela exposes the face of imperialism.

By José Reinaldo Carvalho - The deployment of the destroyers USS Gravely, USS Jason Dunham, and USS Sampson to the Caribbean, in close proximity to Venezuela, is not an action to "combat drug trafficking," as the United States claims, nor is it a measure of "international security." It is, above all, an act of military intimidation, planned to pressure a legitimate government and sow instability throughout the Latin American and Caribbean region.

We are witnessing a renewed expression of an old practice of US imperialism, which insists on dictating rules to Latin America, even in the 21st century. The accusations against President Nicolás Maduro – weak, poorly founded, and politically motivated – are merely pretexts to legitimize an interference operation. It is a repetition of the same script used in other countries, always in the name of a supposed defense of democracy. 

Disrespect for international law

By moving warships into Caribbean waters, the United States is trampling on elementary principles of international law. The prohibition of the use of force, non-intervention in internal affairs, and respect for the self-determination of peoples are the foundations of coexistence among sovereign nations. Violating them means jeopardizing the entire architecture that sustains international peace.

It is unacceptable to accept humanitarian rhetoric, the banner of democracy, or the fight against drug trafficking as justifications. These labels, repeated ad nauseam, mask the true objective: to subjugate a government that insists on preserving its political independence, its development model, and its democratic-popular revolution.

Impacts beyond Venezuela

To ignore this military escalation as if it were a problem exclusive to Caracas would be a grave mistake. What is at stake is the stability of all of Latin America. Brazil, due to its proximity to the Amazon, its migratory flows, and its energy and trade chains, will inevitably be affected.

By militarizing the Venezuelan entourage, Washington is not only challenging Maduro; it is attempting to forcibly reshape the political landscape of the continent. The intention is clear: to weaken Latin American integration and impose an agenda that serves only US interests.

The Venezuelan leader expressed the meaning of events with complete clarity during the 13th Extraordinary Summit of ALBA-TCP (Bolivarian Alliance of the Peoples of Our America - Treaty of Trade between the Peoples), on August 20th: “Latin America and the Caribbean are a territory in dispute between the forces of the peoples, the forces of progress and struggle, and the obscurantist projects of the US empire.”

Solidarity and resistance

Venezuela's response has been firm: defense of sovereignty based on popular unity, civic-military mobilization, and the institutional consolidation of the Bolivarian project. Far from being isolated, the country counts on international cooperation and the awareness of a people who are not willing to negotiate their independence. The Bolivarian Armed Forces have warned that they are mobilized, and the president has announced the mobilization of approximately 5 million volunteers from the National Militias. 

Faced with the imperialist threat, defending Venezuela is, ultimately, defending all of Latin America against the logic of subjugation.

Brazil's responsibility

It is time for the Brazilian government to assume its historical responsibility. The country's diplomatic tradition has always been guided by respect for sovereignty, non-intervention, and the pursuit of peace. To remain silent in the face of this escalation would be to abdicate this role and abdicate a legacy built over decades.

Brazil must make a clear statement: publicly condemn the US military action and advocate for the immediate withdrawal of destroyers from the Caribbean. This gesture would not only be a position in favor of Venezuela, but an affirmation in defense of the entire region.

Enough is enough to the threats.

Latin America and the Caribbean have the right to live without foreign military bases, without economic blockades, and without war fleets patrolling their waters. This is a principle that admits no concessions.

The moment demands an unequivocal stance from all sincerely progressive and patriotic forces: solidarity with the Bolivarian Revolution, respect for President Nicolás Maduro, peace with sovereignty for Venezuela and for all Latin American peoples. It is time to say, without hesitation: enough of military threats.