Trump’s escalation against Venezuela is about more than oil, it is about regaining control over the ‘natural’ zone of influence of the United States at a moment where its hegemony is slipping, argues VIJAY PRASHAD
THE second coming of Donald Trump has encouraged right-wing politicians in Europe and South America to line up behind the US president. Jair Bolsonaro, who lost the last Brazilian presidential election to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (Lula) in 2022, thinks he could make a comeback. He said himself “Trump is back, and it’s a sign we’ll be back, too.”
But now he faces a jail term after he was formally accused of masterminding a conspiracy to overthrow the government and conduct a campaign of assassination of political enemies. Many experts, politicians and trade unions in Brazil expect him to be jailed.
Although it could happen, few see Trump riding to his rescue with threats of tariffs and attempts to destabilise the country; last time around, it was reported that the Trump administration lost interest in Bolsonaro.



