By Hedelberto López Blanch / January 3, 2026
Desperation over the constant decline of the US empire, which sees its international power waning in the face of emerging powers like China, Russia, Iran, Turkey, and others, has led it to try to destroy the Bolivarian Revolution by force.
In its eagerness to control all the riches of Latin America and seize the enormous sources of oil, gold, and rare earth elements that Venezuela possesses, the empire attacked several points in Venezuela and kidnapped its legitimately elected president, Nicolás Maduro Moros, and his wife, Cilia Flores.
And now we ask ourselves, what will the almost ineffective United Nations and the Security Council do to prevent these aggressive acts that violate all kinds of international law? Will they allow the empire’s arrogance to trample on world law and the UN Charter? Will it go unpunished that an empire can attack a nation that has decided its own destiny for the benefit of its people?
The aggressive dynamics of imperialism and its state terrorism are directed against all the peoples of the world, and military action against a free and independent country sets a precedent that threatens the sovereignty of all nations.
If Venezuela can be invaded today to plunder its resources and try to change its political system, in the future, if it is not stopped, it will do so anywhere it wants.
As the Heroic Guerrilla Ernesto Che Guevara said in a speech on November 30, 1964: “You can’t trust imperialism one bit, not at all.”
Emerging powers like Russia and China must also take this into account.
Donald Trump has been insisting on achieving peace in the war between Russia and Ukraine, which was started by the terrorist actions launched by Kyiv against Russian citizens in Donbas and by NATO’s proximity to the borders of the Eurasian giant.
But Trump has simultaneously pressured European nations to dedicate 5% of their Gross Domestic Product to purchasing all types of US weaponry, which would strengthen NATO’s military forces in the event of an attack against Moscow—a very serious threat.
As for Beijing, Washington has abandoned its previous One China policy regarding Taiwan and, on the contrary, has just approved a massive $11.1 billion package for Taipei, the largest US arms sale to the island in its history.
Another question arises: Will the world allow the United States to freely control the global oil trade?
Today they kidnapped Maduro, but tomorrow, for any reason, they will try to do the same to Claudia Sheinbaum, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Gustavo Petro, and anyone else who doesn’t obey the predatory policies of a decaying but extremely dangerous imperial regime.
The empire is out of control, and only the actions of the world’s dignified peoples and governments can stop the actions of the neo-fascists installed in the White House.
With or without the UN, defending Venezuela and demanding the release of President Nicolás Maduro is the fundamental task of our peoples.
(*) Hedelberto López Blanch is a renowned Cuban journalist. He writes for the newspaper Juventud Rebelde and the weekly Opciones. He is the author of “Cuban Emigration to the United States,” “Secret Stories of Cuban Doctors in Africa,” and “Miami, Dirty Money,” among others.
SPECIAL THANKS TO THE AUTHOR: Hedelberto López Blanch
[ SOURCE: RESUMEN LATINOAMERICANO Y DEL TERCER MUNDO CUBA / EN RESUMEN ]
