US Sanctions Venezuela, Calls it 'Democracy Promotion'
Al Jazeera questions what's behind Trump's moves against Venezuela, like declaring its airspace 'closed.' (As if US presidents have territorial jurisdiction over sovereign nations.) What the piece conveniently sidesteps is the deeply ingrained US doctrine of meddling in Latin American affairs, a tradition stretching from the Monroe Doctrine to countless coups, proxy wars, and economic
strangulations. This isn't about 'democracy' when the US has backed dictators who were 'friendly' to its corporate interests for decades. It's about control of resources— Venezuela, with the world's largest proven oil reserves, inconveniently decided to nationalize its industries and chart its own path. So, when they ask 'What is driving' the actions, one might be tempted to look beyond Trump and
consider that same old song and dance: economic leverage, regime change, and ensuring US corporations get their slice. Trump wasn't an anomaly; he was merely playing a familiar tune from the US imperial songbook, replacing 'communism' with 'socialism' as the latest boogeyman to justify interventionism. Remember when the US tried to overthrow Hugo Chávez in 2002? The script hasn't changed much,
just the actors.