Could SA be next after Venezuela?

FATAL FANTASY

- ROSHAN JAINATH

WE HAVE just watched something shocking.

As we begin 2026, American forces have bombed Venezuela and captured its president, Nicolas Maduro Moros.

This was not random. It follows a year where the US, under President Donald Trump, bombed seven other countries.

They have returned to a brutal old habit: using force to topple governments they don’t like.

The White House said it wanted to stop drug trafficking. But that story collapses immediately. America’s own drug agencies don’t even list Venezuela as a source for drugs entering the US.

Even US politicians admit they weren't properly briefed. If the public reason is a clear lie, we must ask what the real reasons are.

The truth is about oil, power and punishment.

First, oil. Venezuela has the largest oil reserves on Earth. Powerful people in Washington have openly dreamed of taking it.

One US politician called it a “field day” for American companies, worth over a trillion dollars. This isn’t a drug war; it’s theft, disguised as security.

Second, it hurts China. China buys most of Venezuela’s oil. By seizing it, the US cuts a critical lifeline to its biggest rival.

Third, it breaks an alliance. Venezuela was joining BRICS — the group with Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. This group challenges US money and power. Removing Venezuela's president stops it from joining. It also hurts Cuba, Venezuela’s ally, by cutting off its cheap oil supply.