Salil Gewali
The recent military actions by the United States against Venezuela are deeply troubling. They may
set a dangerous precedent. Acting under the stated rationale of narcoterrorism and governance
disputes, the U.S. launched strikes involving over 150 aircraft and captured Venezuela’s leader and
his wife. The images of Nicolás Maduro and his wife in handcuffs laid bare Donald Trump’s descent
into brute power politics, stripping away any semblance of justice.
These actions bring up serious questions about the erosion of international norms. Furthermore, this
directly goes against the principles that support the global order.
The United Nations Charter is unambiguous: no nation, however powerful, has the right to trample
on the sovereignty of another except in genuine self-defence or with explicit authorization from the
Security Council. This is not a matter of interpretation. It is a law forged from the bloodshed of countless past wars and invasions.
When a superpower breaks away from these rules, it does more than harm a single country—it tears down the pillars of global peace. Behind the rhetoric of narcoterrorism, the shadow of oil and resources cannot be ignored.
Venezuela’s petroleum wealth has long attracted outside interest. This episode feels more like a
pursuit of profit than a pursuit of justice. History is full of empires disguising greed as virtue, but the
truth always emerges.
International leaders across the globe have condemned the aggression, warning that this precedent
could inspire similar actions elsewhere. Diplomats and organizations now question where the
boundaries of military power truly lie in today’s world.
Yes, this moment calls for reflection. A philosopher once said that power without justice is violence,
and justice without power is weakness. The balance between the two is essential, and it is precisely
what the UN Charter sought to preserve. To break that balance is to invite chaos, where “might
makes right” and the weak are left defenseless.
For ordinary people, the lesson is simple yet profound. Sovereignty is not just a word in treaties; it is
the shield that protects nations, cultures, and lives from domination. To erode it is to erode dignity
itself.
The aggression in Venezuela is not only about borders—it poses a deeper question: will
humanity stand up for law over force, fairness over greed, and solidarity over domination?
Peace is built on mutual respect, not domination. If nations abandon this principle, the global order
will descend into disorder. Venezuela’s plight is a warning the world must heed.
Today, it is Venezuela under the United States. Tomorrow, it could be Taiwan, the Philippines, or
Vietnam under China. After that, countries such as Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan may come
under the boots of Russia. The world order could crumble entirely, reduced to a spectacle of brute
strength and ego.
Is this not akin to the savagery of primitive times? What a classic case of
irony—Donald Trump, once fervently seeking the Nobel Peace Prize, is now seen by many as an
architect of chaos rather than peace.
A writer and researcher based in India, Salil Gewali is best known for his research-based work, Great Minds on India, which has earned worldwide appreciation. His book has been translated into fifteen languages – with a preface by a world-acclaimed NASA Chief Scientist, Dr. Kamlesh Lulla of Houston, USA. Gewali is also a member of the International Human Rights Commission,
