On Jan 3, Americans awoke to find their nation transformed into the epicenter of global condemnation — branded a barbarian state for its flagrant violation of international laws and norms. The previous day, United States military forces invaded Venezuela, deployed over 150 warplanes to bomb strategic spots in Caracas, abducted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, and transported them against their will to the US. The operation reportedly left at least 80 dead, including many innocent civilians.
Simultaneously, Americans witnessed the collapse of their constitutional order. The military had acted without congressional authorization — both in the invasion of Venezuela and in earlier strikes against vessels in the Caribbean. Notably, even during the Iraq invasion two decades ago, the Bush administration sought legitimacy from the United Nation Security Council. US President Donald Trump’s administration dispensed with such formalities, demonstrating open contempt for international law.
Had they paid the slightest attention to foreign media, Americans would have seen their country described as a tyrannical hegemon that invades sovereign states at will, abducts leaders, and acts with impunity. This criticism explicitly linked the US to the genocide in Gaza, where it serves as Israel’s accomplice by providing the armaments to the Israeli Defense Force in bombing civilians and enforcing starvation sieges. Through military and economic coercion, the US bullies nations into submission, inflicting suffering and destruction worldwide with a record of unmitigated aggression.
This episode confirms, once again, that the US empire is built on lies, sustained by a propaganda machine that masquerades as media. The world knows Washington’s twisted rhetoric on fentanyl and “narcoterrorism” was merely a pretext. Most fentanyl fueling the US’ crisis does not come from Venezuela. The true motives are transparent: to seize Venezuela’s vast oil reserves — the largest on Earth — and to force regime change, cementing US hegemony.
From international reports, Americans can also see waves of global protest following the attack on Venezuela, including in Brussels, Madrid, Ankara, Mexico City and beyond. The US flag was burned and trashed everywhere. Rocks were thrown at American diplomatic compounds, and social media was flooded with anti-American outrage. Even domestically, anti-Trump protests erupted in over 100 cities.
Global leaders have uniformly condemned the invasion. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated he is “deeply alarmed”, warning that the operation sets a dangerous precedent and undermines regional stability. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot called it “a breach of the fundamental principle prohibiting the use of force”. China expressed grave concern over the clear violation of international law and the UN Charter and demanded Maduro’s immediate release. In an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Monday, nearly all its 15 members present, including US allies, condemned the US for the “crime of aggression”. Economist and UN adviser Jeffrey Sachs delivered blistering remarks at the meeting, warning of US “hegemonic power grabs” and urging the council to defend the UN Charter and international law.
Collectively, the international community bears responsibility for enabling Trump’s impunity. Since returning to power, he has grown increasingly reckless — backing Israel’s genocide in Gaza, which has killed tens of thousands; patronizingly claiming Canada as the “51st state”; renaming the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America”; and wanting to “buy” Greenland from Denmark. The global response has been weak acquiescence.
Militarily, the US has quietly expanded its unilateral strikes, including against Iran and Venezuela. In Venezuela, the US first attacked Venezuelan vessels under the pretense of drug interdiction, conducting extrajudicial killings in international waters. Survivors were reportedly executed with a “double tap” strike. Then came the seizure of oil tankers, tantamount to piracy.
In one sense, Trump is being honest. His administration openly admits the goals are regime change and capturing Venezuela’s oil. “We’re gonna take back the oil that frankly we should have taken back a long time ago,” Trump declared after Maduro’s abduction, adding, “We are ready to stage a second and much larger attack if needed.” He framed it as a long-term occupation: “We’re going to run the country until we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition.”
The abduction of a democratically elected leader represents the ultimate unlawful interference in another sovereign state’s internal affairs. Trump even suggested that the US would run Venezuela. The Venezuelan people must not tolerate this national insult — they must unite and resist. The world must stand with them.
We now live in a lawless world ruled by tyrants — robbers who invade nations, kidnap leaders, and seek to evade the consequences. What is most worrying is that these are the figures who oversee an arsenal of nuclear weapons.
The world must awaken and resist US hegemony. If unchecked, the US will launch similar invasions elsewhere — Greenland, Iran, Cuba, Colombia and even Canada, as Trump has hinted. No country in the world is safe anymore from US bullying or aggression.
The author is an honorary fellow of HKU Space and HK Metropolitan University. He is an advisor with Our Hong Kong Foundation and a council member of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
