US militarism has worsened under Trumps presidency

US President Donald Trump has authorized a military intervention in Venezuela, citing national security concerns and access to oil resources. The operation bears similarities to previous US-led regime changes, including the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Prior to becoming president, Trump had publicly criticized the George W Bush administration’s decision to launch the war on Iraq. However, as president, he has now overseen a military intervention in Venezuela that shares some parallels with the Iraqi invasion.

The key distinction between this operation and previous US-led regime changes is the lack of an overarching vision for Venezuela’s future. After Trump finished a news conference alongside his secretaries of defense and state, it was unclear what the plan was for Venezuela or if there was a plan at all.

Trump has also made statements threatening further attacks in the coming days, which have provided no clarity on the operation’s objectives. In contrast to previous US-led regime changes, which were often justified by specific ideological visions, Trump’s decision to intervene in Venezuela appears to be driven by a desire to achieve military objectives without a clear long-term strategy.

Historically, US interventions in Latin America and the Caribbean have been guided by various ideological justifications, including the Monroe Doctrine. However, Trump has not provided a clear justification for his actions in Venezuela, instead relying on vague references to humanitarianism and counterterrorism. The president’s use of the Monroe Doctrine as a justification for the operation was also met with skepticism, as he later joked about “superseding” it with the “Donroe Doctrine.”

Source: Al Jazeera