Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, Greenland and Iran… there is a long list of countries on the American radar
AMIDST increasing concern over the US aggression in Venezuela, at least some hope has arisen from the fact that some voices of justice and reason have also been raised within America. These voices of justice and reason will have to be strengthened in the coming days in the US and in all parts of the world to prevent further aggression and to protect whatever remains of a semblance to rules-based international order. In addition, the United Nations must take a much stronger stand to oppose this aggression and stop its further extension.
Even if one goes only by what has already appeared in news headlines, the perceived ‘success’ of the attack and accompanying kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro and the first lady of a sovereign country from their resting place. by its perpetrators may further accelerate the process of ongoing aggression in several other countries and regions. Those on the threatened list certainly include Cuba which has been the world’s most courageous country and whose doctors have probably contributed the most to providing medical care to those who need this the most in some of the most difficult conditions in the world. Cuba has been openly threatened by the US policy-makers in recent times, including by those who had a leading role in the Venezuela fiasco.
Nicaragua is another small country being threatened more and more. Like Cuba, this country has a government known to be committed to creating a more equal and just society. Even if one goes entirely by books and articles written by several US scholars and authors regarding these countries, their commitment to equality and justice leading to good results for their weaker sections have been well documented.
So why are these countries being targeted? Is working for justice and equality a crime?
Again, if one relies only on the assertions repeatedly made by US President Donald Trump and his team, then the highly aggressive attitude towards annexation or at least getting a decisive role in Greenland affairs is well-established, despite the opposition of close US ally Denmark, overruling the wishes of the indigenous population and disregarding the urgency of finding a future for Greenland based on ecologically protective policies.
In addition, there is also the urgency of preventing any further aggression against Iran, on top of the 12-day war that took place last year. However there have been several reports that the close US ally Israel supports further aggression, and America is likely to continue to be supportive to this as in the past. A combination of inciting internal violence and launching external aggression may be used which can be very harmful not only for Iran but also for world peace and should be opposed.
There is also increasing possibility of the US becoming more aggressive towards not just Colombia but even Mexico and Brazil.
However, the biggest worry just now is regarding the future course of US policy in Venezuela. Will this aggression become much worse in the coming days to realise the kind of objectives which violate the principles of sovereignty and protecting its resource base and interests of its people related to this by any independent country? These increasing aggressions will be very harmful for a world that is already deeply troubled in many ways to the extent of facing a survival crisis. All such aggressions (by the US or by any other country) will make it more and more difficult to obtain the conditions of world cooperation, peace and stability that are needed for resolving the survival or the existential crisis. Worse still, as these aggressions are taking place against the wider backdrop of great power rivalries, which are increasingly more intense and more tense, such aggressions can also spiral out of control into bigger and more destructive wars that no one really wants and which intensify the survival crisis.
Some of these aggressions closer to the US are sought to be justified by saying that a great power like the US cannot accept a hostile country very close to it. However, such a justification for aggression can be used only if the countries perceived to be hostile pose a security threat to the US. But, countries like Venezuela, much less Cuba or Nicaragua, cannot be called a security threat to the US by any stretch of imagination.
Hence there is absolutely no justification for any continuing US aggression. In fact, there is something very shocking in referring to the kidnapping of the president of another country and its first lady as a success of armed forces. This is not a success; it is a disgrace. The only hopeful sign is that some independent voices in the US are also opposing this, although this should happen more widely and the constitutional provisions should be used to prevent and undo such extremely objectionable acts. The public opinion in the US and worldwide should act with the UN to stop all such unjustified aggressions and injustices.
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Bharat Dogra writes extensively on environment, development and welfare issues. The views expressed here are the writer’s own, and Clarion India does not necessarily subscribe to them. He can be reached at: bharatdogra1956@gmail.com
