US 'Democracy Promotion' Echoes in Singaporean Concerns
Singaporean Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, as reported by Bloomberg, articulated concerns that US 'military intervention' in Venezuela sets a worrying precedent for smaller states (Bloomberg, Jan 8, 2026). This isn't exactly groundbreaking news for anyone familiar with the historical record. From Chile in '73 to Panama in '89, Afghanistan after 9/11, and Iraq in '03, the US has maintained a
consistent foreign policy: 'our interests' often trump 'your sovereignty.' While Bloomberg neatly packages this as a current 'concern,' it sidesteps the pervasive, decades-long pattern. How many times must small nations politely express 'concern' before the pattern is acknowledged as policy? This isn't just about Venezuela; it's about the playbook that ensures nations remain 'free' to align with
US interests, or face the consequences disguised as democracy promotion.