By Bisi Ladi
Sir: Observers of United States foreign policy argue that Washington’s posture toward Venezuela reflects a broader pattern of neocolonial power projection, in which military pressure and political destabilisation are used to secure access to strategic resources and protect the interests of American corporations.
According to these observers, the Trump administration has demonstrated the readiness for practical use of force as a tool of geopolitical signaling, prioritising spectacle and intimidation over diplomacy.
Such actions, they contend, fit into a long-standing doctrine where military power substitutes for international consensus, particularly in resource-rich regions of developing countries that comprise the Global South.
Analysts drawing parallels between regions, point to reported Pentagon strikes in December 2025 in Nigeria, officially framed as counter terrorism operations. The U.S. has since gone ahead to provide significant security support to Nigeria with recent approval of $413 million for counter-insurgency in the country.
Venezuela’s vast oil reserves make it a persistent target of U.S. pressure. Sanctions, political interference, and threats of force are seen as instruments of economic warfare, designed to force regime change favorable to foreign capital rather than to promote democracy or human rights.
Analysts emphasise that the rhetoric of ‘’counter-terrorism’’ or ‘’defending democracy,’’ often corporations. The same logic, they argue, underpin US actions in Latin America and parts of Africa alike.
That is why Washington’s Venezuela policy cannot be understood in isolation. Instead, it forms part of a broader strategy of coercive dominance, where military power, economic sanctions, and information campaign are combined to maintain US control over critical resources under the guise of global security and order.
• Bisi Ladi wrote from Ibadan, Oyo State
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