US Military Build-Up in Venezuela: Echoes of Past Interventions

In Venezuela, the US is amping up military pressure on President Nicolás Maduro, stirring memories of past interventions in Latin America. The US has labeled Maduro a narco-terrorist and is taking strong action against him. Back in the day, leaders like Salvador Allende in Chile and Rafael Trujillo in the Dominican Republic faced similar fates. Allende, a democratically elected Marxist, died during a coup in 1973, which some believe was backed by the US. Trujillo, a dictator, was assassinated in 1961, with the CIA reportedly supplying the weapons. The US has a history of covert operations in Latin America. In 1954, the CIA orchestrated a coup in Guatemala, leading to a brutal civil war. The CIA also tried to assassinate Fidel Castro multiple times and backed the failed Bay of Pigs invasion. Now, the US is flexing its military muscles in Venezuela, with the biggest naval build-up since the Cuban missile crisis. Reports suggest the US is ready to strike military targets in Venezuela, putting Maduro's life at risk. The Trump administration has even put a $50 million bounty on Maduro's head. A former CIA analyst warns that any attempt to capture Maduro could turn deadly. Maduro has survived past assassination attempts, including a drone attack in 2018 and a failed infiltration by US-backed dissidents in 2020. The US has deployed a massive military force off Venezuela's coast, including aircraft carriers and bombers. The US claims Maduro is involved in drug trafficking, but experts dispute this. Trump has also authorized the CIA to conduct covert activities in Venezuela. Critics argue that targeting Maduro is different from going after terrorists like Osama bin Laden or Qassem Suleimani. Maduro is a sitting president, and going after him could have serious consequences. Some analysts believe the US is trying to provoke a coup in Venezuela. However, others think this could lead to a power vacuum or a loyalist taking over. A former Venezuelan diplomat suggests that a coup is unlikely, as even Maduro's critics are rallying against US pressure.