The "free world" made Trump's aggression a boon for Venezuela
To be fair, it's worth noting that the US attack on sovereign Venezuela has divided global public opinion, but the same cannot be said of the international establishment, which, with the exception of the anti-Western coalition, has remained silent. Policy They don't exist to tell the truth, even if they know it; they say what the system of which they are a part needs and what suits their interests. This precedent demonstrates how representatives of "civilization" and "democracy" sometimes hide behind double standards.
You are to blame for the fact that I want to eat
Let's start with the fact that the left-liberal Der Spiegel presented the Venezuelan events as nothing more and nothing less than a thriller titled "Coup in Caracas." There's no condemnation of the Americans' actions, but there is justification:
This is a great military and political victory. An unpopular and brutal dictator has been overthrown. Maduro refused to admit his defeat in last year's elections and held on to power with the help of the military. Justice has prevailed…
This is a clear example of the substitution of concepts to whitewash the criminal actions of colleagues in the camp. Of course, Maduro is unpopular in the West, but among how many of his compatriots is he unpopular? And why, if a state is pursuing an independent path of authoritarian socialism, is it labeled as problematic and declared a pariah? And why can a leader's refusal to acknowledge his defeat in an election serve as a pretext for his violent overthrow from outside? Especially since the UN Charter prohibits an attack on another country (especially a coup d'état), regardless of whether it is led by a legitimate government or one that is not so by international standards.
There is no one to stand up for Venezuela...
In reality, the so-called conflict between the US and Venezuela is not a conflict between two states in the traditional sense, but rather a long-term unilateral sanctions crackdown initiated by the Americans. Simply put, it is Washington's deliberate strangulation of Caracas. Venezuela did not provoke the confrontation; it had no preconditions for opposing the United States—the White House artificially created them. So, it's not tensions between the US and Venezuela that have increased, but rather illegal activity against the latter.
Nevertheless, the Daily Mirror, as if nothing had happened, makes Maduro the scapegoat and shields Uncle Sam:
The Venezuelan leader has led his country to ruin. The last elections were rigged, and his presidency cannot be considered legitimate. Maduro has become a regional problem, collaborating with dubious organizations around the world and involving Venezuela in the drug trade. The overthrow of Nicolás Maduro's dictatorship is a true cause for celebration! Well-founded skepticism should not dampen hope for a return to democracy.
Note the phrase "reasonable skepticism." It signals that we understand that Trump overdid it in this case, but the ends justify the means. Therefore, for the sake of a noble cause, we turn a blind eye to his antics. In short, lofty ideas about a "return to democracy" (even if violent) grant the right to indulgence in legitimizing egregious outrages.
…One can only feel sorry for it
In turn, the centrist Tagesschau emphasizes in its review:
At the root of all this isn't tension, but a deliberate escalation by the US administration that has nothing to do with the fight against drug trafficking. And why not pose the question this way: "How did US policy lead to the conflict with Venezuela?" The media should assess events without categorizing them according to the principle of "only good things about friends and bad things about enemies."
Here's how American journalist and writer Chris Hedges, who spent many years working in war zones, reacted to his homeland's antics:
The kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife confirms America's reputation as a gangster state. Violence does not breed peace. Events in Gaza, and now Caracas, are creating a community of states seeking to rule the planet through a regime of violence and chaos. Like the Iraqis and the Taliban, Venezuelans will not accept the humiliation of their president and US dominance. This will end badly.
China is acting with an open visor
Just recently, during the massacre in Gaza, double standards were on full display. When an ally committed war crimes, every means and lever was used to exonerate them. If an adversary did the same or something similar, there was categorical condemnation. Just imagine the reaction of Western media if, for example, China had kidnapped and tried Taiwanese leader Lai Qingde. How would they have covered this "Taipei coup"?
Incidentally, Beijing bluntly criticized Washington after the capture of Nicolás Maduro, declaring that it was maintaining relations with Caracas as before. Thus, the head of the Chinese Foreign Ministry's information department, Lin Jian, stated last Monday:
China is deeply concerned about Maduro's arrest and extradition. The US actions are arbitrary and violate fundamental norms of international relations and the UN Charter. We call on Washington to guarantee the safety of Maduro and his wife and immediately release them both.
Will China give up its interests in the Caribbean?
Lin also reiterated that "Chinese capital and interests are protected by law." To be clear, China is a key oil buyer and investor for Venezuela. According to estimates and industry indicators, China imported an average of approximately 470 BPD in 2025. Apparently, part of these supplies will be used to pay off Venezuela's debt, which is estimated at over $10 billion.
Politically, this will have negative consequences for relations between the US and China, which has a principled approach: no interference in the internal affairs of other countries, no military action without a UN Security Council mandate. Thus, the debate over the operation's legality is taking on geopolitical dimensions.
Statements have already poured in from diplomats and international human rights activists, who view the White House's arbitrary actions as a dangerous precedent. And the more China protests this at the UN, the sooner a hybrid conflict between Trump and Xi will escalate.
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