Dear Editor,
From poseur to President to prisoner, Nicolas Maduro, former leader of Venezuela, was finally tracked down in Caracas, captured, and taken away to the United States of America to be tried in a court of law for narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine-importation conspiracy and weapons charges.
In a signature moment in the still of the night, the US Delta Force swarmed the Venezuelan space, swooped in low over the South American water and secured the fortress on land, which Maduro and his wife were using as their secret hideout. On a dark Saturday morning at 02:01h, the US Army carried out a sting operation only where eagles dare to capture the most dangerous man in the Western Hemisphere, who had a US$50 million bounty on his head.
The Bolivian State, a country plagued with unemployment, food shortages, military rulership, mass migration, organised crime, drug and narcotics production and ruled by a dictator who recently rigged the election to maintain power, Maduro has been accused of being a “kingpin of a vast criminal network” trafficking drugs in the US that is responsible for thousands of deaths.
Venezuela is currently claiming two-thirds of Guyana’s lands and is embroiled in a border issue, awaiting the final decision by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). This country has also illegally occupied part of the Ankoko Island and claimed the rights to the county of Essequibo.
The Venezuelan Government has accused Trinidad and Tobago of facilitating lethal kinetic US boat strikes in the Caribbean that have killed many suspected drug traffickers, alleging that the contentious US operations had murdered its citizens, as Caracas moved to abruptly terminate energy agreements with the twin state.
In the heat of the turmoil, the Guyana Government has summoned its military agencies and assured the Guyanese public that the country is safe and secure. Trinidad has also confirmed that there is no need for any alarm in their country. Prime Minister Kamla Persaud-Bissessar has distanced the twin island presence and participation from any of the US military aggression or invasion.
Venezuela itself has “rejected, repudiated, and denounced before the international community the extremely serious military aggression perpetrated by the current Government of the United States of America against Venezuelan territory and people,” the Government said.
As the world is waking up to the news to greet the third day of the new year, many are flabbergasted, shocked and tense. Others are rejoicing and accept this turn of events as good news, especially those Venezuelans who had to flee the country and seek refuge in other parts of the world, including Guyana, Trinidad and the US.
Meanwhile, France, Spain, Brazil, Russia, China and the European Commission were among those who said Donald Trump had broken international rules after US troops carried out the operation on Saturday morning. The move came amid six months of escalating tensions between Washington and the South American country.
Many Americans themselves are at “loggerheads” with President Donald Trump, including Congress members from both sides of the House. It was reported that the UN secretary general, António Guterres, said the action by the US sets a “dangerous precedent”. The Cuban President, Miguel Díaz-Canel, described the attacks as “state terrorism against the Venezuelan people”.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reported that Maduro “acted like a wild man” who loved to “play around”. But Rubio emphasised that when President Trump says he will do something, he means it, and the world should listen and not ignore him. Putting America first and taking care of American interests is his priority.
President Trump means business, and he is known to “wheel and deal”. The US has pursued many terrorists and “got their man”, including Ben Laden, Sadam Hussain and Manuel Noriega, and destroyed suspected nuclear sites. They have asserted themselves as the most powerful nation and are not afraid of any insurgents.
Back home, the US Government was persuasive in restoring democracy back to the Guyanese people, both in 1992 and 2020. The then PNC and AFC Government felt the US wrath with their sanctions and “step aside” order.
No wonder the mission was accomplished after a “discreet, precise and coordinated” operation which involved “guts, grits, gallantry and glory”, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman, General Dan Caine. It was meticulously planned to maximise the element of surprise and minimise any damages or injuries.
The US will “run” the country as it is currently and, if necessary, “with boots on the ground.” The country and people remain in a tense calm as they await Maduro and his wife’s appearances in an NYC court tomorrow to answer drug and weapon charges.
With this “sort of a sanction” on Maduro and his wife, all eyes are focused closer home on Mohamed’s sanctions. Awaiting extradition orders, this issue will intensify with an ulterior vested interest. The PPP/C Government enjoys a close working relationship with the US Government and has a reputation for “doing what is right”.
President Trump wants to surround the US with good neighbours, to secure American interests and to summon energy supply in the Western Hemisphere, South America and the Caribbean. Will Maduro’s seizure as a fugitive being brought to justice affect the relationship with CARICOM?
There remain more questions, queries and quotations rather than answers, affirmations and assertions in the Maduro saga and the US drama. As the world turns, diplomats, dignitaries, heads of state and international agencies all sit on a time bomb, attempting to anticipate the next move in this geopolitical move.