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
AS VENEZUELA announces July 28 as the date for its next presidential election, US President Joe Biden is keeping the pressure on the South American nation by renewing for a further year the “declaration of national emergency” against it.
The declaration says Venezuela “poses an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.” First imposed by president Barack Obama, this executive order enables the US to impose an array of sanctions against Venezuela in a drive to achieve “regime change” in the country.
In all, 930 coercive measures that are illegal under international law have been applied against Venezuela amounting to a fully fledged blockade of the country.
The global left must be unwavering in it is support for Venezuela as Washington increases its aggression, and clear-eyed about the West’s cynical motives for targeting it, says CLAUDIA WEBBE



