Venezuela is Trump's useful enemy

It may be cover for the war the US is waging at home.

- Edward Luce

A protester with a toy depicting the late Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez during a rally in Caracas on Oct 6 in support of President Nicolas Maduro, amid rising tensions with the US. While few Venezuelans would mourn Mr Maduro's demise, they would fight against Yankee imperialism, says the writer.

(REUTERS)

Is US President Donald Trump planning to overthrow Venezuela's regime?

Putting three US destroyers, an amphibious assault ship, a guided-missile cruiser, a nuclear-powered attack submarine and a squadron of F-35s under Venezuela’s nose certainly looks that way.

That includes 6,500 navy and marine personnel. No drugs seizure operation needs such backup.

Then again, Mr Trump does extravagant things for performative reasons. Ask the almost 800 US generals and admirals summoned from around the world to listen to him ramble last week.

Right now, Venezuela is Mr Trump’s Schrodinger’s war; it is neither happening nor not happening. But open conflict is a hair’s breadth away. Venezuela is irresistibly tempting to Mr Trump as an enemy. Its role in his mind is as chief instigator of turmoil in America’s urban “war zones” where he has deployed troops - Memphis, Chicago and Portland being the latest, following Los Angeles and Washington.