Maduro’s arrest and the return of American gunboat diplomacy

THE unprecedented kidnapping in the world annals, in the manner in which it took place, of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro constitutes not only a military intervention in a sovereign and independent country in violation of the principles of international law, but also constitutes a clear warning to the entire planet.

- ISIDOROS KARDERINIS

THE US have captured President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores with American President Donald Trump justifying the actions as necessary to combat 'narco-terrorism'.

(AFP)

A warning to every insubordinate leader of any country.

Already on January 3, during a press conference he gave regarding the military operation and arrest of Maduro, US President Donald Trump issued threats against Colombian President Gustavo Petro, stating: "He would do well to be careful."

At the same time, the US president hinted that Cuba could be a topic of discussion within the context of broader US policy in the region, highlighting Washington's ability to expand its focus beyond Venezuela. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio even said that the Cuban government should be worried after Maduro's arrest. Specifically, he said: "If I lived in Havana and was a member of the government, at least I would be worried," adding that "Cuba is a disaster" and that the country is "run by incompetent and depraved men."

The history of the US, moreover, is characterised by extensive imperialist interventions, both territorial and interventionist in other countries.

Specifically, there have been approximately 400 interventions since 1776, when the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, declaring the independence of the 13 American Colonies from the British Empire, an event that marked the official founding of the United States of America.