Former SA Ambassador to Venezuela calls US operation a fight for oil

Bheki Gila critiques US motives behind military intervention in South America

- MANYANE MANYANE

FORMER South African ambassador to Venezuela, Bheki Gila, has dismissed the allegations of "counter-narcotics" and "narco-terrorism" used by US President Donald Trump as the primary justification to launch a major military operation against Venezuela.

Instead, Gila has attributed the US forces' "large-scale strike" involving more than 150 aircraft, targeting military and government infrastructure in Caracas and the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira to Venezuela's largest proven oil reserves. The US captured President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, with Trump justifying the actions as necessary to combat "narco-terrorism", accusing Maduro of leading the "Cartel of the Suns" and facilitating the flow of drugs into the US.

Maduro was indicted in the Southern District of New York on charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation and weapons offences.

Trump also announced that the US would "run" Venezuela temporarily until a "judicious transition" of power could be arranged. He also stated that US oil companies would be involved in refurbishing Venezuela's oil infrastructure.