Editorial and Opinion Page

What is happening between the US and Venezuela?

by Ellie Green and Charlotte Welliver

The beginning of the New Year often brings time for improvement and resolutions; however, the United States has already entered the repetitive routines of violence. Through an overnight attack beginning on January 2, the Trump Administration began a major military attack in Venezuela. This was done through violent bombing, which officials say killed at least forty people.

The Trump Administration also captured the Venezuelan leader, President Nicolás Maduro, and his wife. President Donald Trump had long threatened that he could order military strikes on targets on Venezuelan territory after months of attacks on boats accused of carrying drugs from the South American country. Trump had planned this attack, stating that the Trump Administration built a house similar to Maduor’s to execute the plan. As part of the operation, US forces also disabled Venezuela’s air defence systems, with Trump saying the “lights of Caracas were largely turned off due to a certain expertise that we have,” without elaborating.

The Trump administration's U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said they would face trial in New York on charges of involvement in narco-terroism, the act of drug traffickers using violence, intimidation, and threats to disrupt anti-drug efforts, control territory, or influence government policies. Via social media, Maduro is shown handcuffed and blindfolded being escorted by agents at the US Drug Enforcement Administration offices, in which Trump captioned his tweet “Nicolas Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima,” and Maduro is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.

In the meantime, President Dinal Trump said the US will “run the country” until a “judicious transition” can happen. Trump also claimed that the US will seize Venezuela’s massive oil reserves. However, this leads Venezuela into an unpredictable future. Venezuela's Supreme Court has directed Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to assume the powers and duties of Maduro. This has left Venezuelans across the country with deep anxiety and apprehension.

This sudden attack has also caused tragedies regarding flights, becoming deeply concerning for millions of Americans traveling for the holidays. Airlines cancelled over 1,000 flights nationwide on Saturday in part due to the Caribbean airspace closures, as well as factors like weather. As a result, most commercial flights to and from the airport operated by American Airlines were suspended or temporarily cancelled. Foreign airlines and military aircraft were not included in this restriction. However, flights are getting back on track as American Airlines has added 3,000 additional seats by adding flights and using larger aircraft in the Caribbean region.

Student Opinion

by Gavin Meier

Question: Do you think the United States was justified in using military force to capture Venezuela’s president, or did the action go too far?

Jacob Steed

“I believe President Trump stated that major American oil companies, such as Chevron, Exxon, Shell, and BP, would gain greater control over some of the world’s largest oil reserves. As a result, the United States would not need to rely as heavily on oil from direct adversaries like Russia and China. In my view, this approach strengthens American energy independence while supporting domestic businesses. I see this as President Trump delivering on his promise of putting America first and bringing economic power and industry back to the United States.”

Evelyn Wheeler

“I believe that Nicolás Maduro had been accused of serious illegal actions well before Donald Trump took office, including allegations related to narco-terrorism. While I acknowledge that the situation may not have been handled perfectly, I believe action was ultimately necessary. Maduro’s involvement in criminal activity posed an immediate threat to regional stability and to the security interests of the United States. Given the severity of those accusations, I believe the United States was justified in taking decisive action to address the situation and protect its national interests.”

Ellie Green

“I do not believe it is moral or legal to capture another country’s president. If a similar action were taken against the United States, American citizens would be enraged and view it as a serious violation of international law and national sovereignty. Because of this, I do not think it is justified for the United States or President Donald Trump to take such actions against other countries. In my view, holding other nations to a different standard than we would expect for ourselves is unfair and ultimately undermines global stability.”

Xander Odum

“I do not believe that capturing President Maduro was the ideal course of action, but I understand why intervention was considered necessary given his role as a dictator and his alleged involvement in narco-terrorism. At the same time, I do not think bombing Venezuela was justified, especially if the primary objective was to target Maduro himself. Military actions that risk widespread harm to civilians should be carefully weighed, and in this case, a more targeted approach would have been preferable.”

Trevor Agan

“I think the U.S. should have coordinated with Congress and discussed legal charges before taking action in Venezuela. Planning the operation more carefully with the government could have helped avoid confusion and made the decision-making process more organized and legitimate.”

Meredith Rogers

“I think everyone needs to take a Xanax, sit down, read a book, touch grass, and mind their own business. We don't need to bomb places, just have a decent conversation and make up on the world stage.”

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