The world woke up to the news this weekend that the U.S. had invaded Venezuela and captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
Since then, Maduro and Flores have been indicted by the U.S. on weapons and drug charges. They appeared in a federal court in New York City on Monday and pleaded not guilty.
Some close observers of the region say it was only a matter of time before President Donald Trump’s administration intervened in Venezuela in this way.
“I mean, clearly, this wasn't about a democratic transition, right?” said Steve Lewis, who teaches Latin American history at Chico State. “This is about grabbing Maduro and his wife and taking control of these petroleum reserves.”
Venezuela sits on one of the largest oil reserves in the world, according to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC. In a news conference, Trump said the U.S. and others will benefit from the country’s seized oil assets.
Lewis said the U.S. has a long history of military interventions in Latin America —including in Cuba, Nicaragua and Panama — many of which have led to increased instability.
He also said Trump’s operation will likely have global implications.
“The UN has been totally bypassed in this whole process,” Lewis said. “Trump himself has weakened NATO, indicating that Greenland may be next, which is a direct threat to Denmark and to Europe. I think we're entering dangerous times.”
