The Resurgence of Gunboat Diplomacy: How U.S. Actions in the Caribbean Echo a Dangerous Past
Seventy people dead in the Caribbean and Pacific, allegedly narcotraffickers, yet without a shred of due process. Open discussion of assassinating a foreign head of state. A massive military buildup rivaling the Cuban Missile Crisis. These aren’t relics of a bygone era; they are unfolding now, signaling a deeply troubling shift in U.S. foreign policy and a return to the aggressive, interventionist tactics of the past. The implications extend far beyond Venezuela and Cuba, threatening to destabilize Latin America and erode the foundations of international law.
Echoes of the Church Committee: A 50-Year Regression
The current situation bears a chilling resemblance to the revelations of the 1975 Church Committee, which exposed decades of CIA plots to assassinate foreign leaders – from Fidel Castro to Patrice Lumumba. At the time, these actions were deemed scandalous, a betrayal of American values. Today, the discussion of “neutralizing” Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is happening openly, with officials seemingly searching for a legal justification for what amounts to state-sponsored murder. As Peter Kornbluh, senior analyst at the National Security Archive, points out, we’ve traveled a long way in the wrong direction.
The Caribbean as a Killing Field: Extrajudicial Killings and Lack of Transparency
The U.S. Navy’s recent actions – the destruction of 17 boats and one submarine – raise serious questions about proportionality and legality. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s pronouncements of success are accompanied by “snuff films” of destroyed vessels, celebrating the elimination of human life without due process. These killings, occurring in international waters, are condemned by U.N. human rights chief Volker Türk and fuel accusations of extrajudicial killings. The lack of evidence presented to support claims of narcotrafficking only deepens the concern. Human Rights Watch has documented similar concerns regarding the lack of transparency and accountability surrounding these incidents.
Beyond Drugs: The Geopolitical Calculus
While framed as a drug interdiction effort, the escalation in the Caribbean appears to be part of a broader strategy. The deployment of 10 naval vessels, 10,000 troops, and the USS Gerald R. Ford – the most lethal aircraft carrier in the world – suggests a far more ambitious agenda. The USS Gerald R. Ford, carrying 5,000 Marines and seamen, adds another 10,000 personnel to the already substantial U.S. military presence in the region, totaling 15,000. Venezuela isn’t a major transit point for drugs, with cocaine being the primary substance found on intercepted vessels, suggesting the true target is Maduro himself.
Venezuela, Cuba, and the Pursuit of Regional Dominance
The potential for military intervention in Venezuela isn’t happening in a vacuum. It’s intertwined with a long-standing U.S. desire to exert control over Latin America and a specific focus on undermining the Cuban government. As Kornbluh explains, eliminating Maduro would sever a key economic and political lifeline for Cuba, making it easier to destabilize the island nation. This echoes a pattern of U.S. interventionism throughout the region’s history, driven by a perceived need to maintain dominance. The recent increase in attacks against the Colombian president further illustrates a pattern of aggressive rhetoric and pressure tactics.
The War Powers Act and Congressional Resistance
Despite the escalating tensions, there has been some pushback from Congress. A recent resolution invoking the War Powers Act, aimed at halting military intervention in Venezuela, narrowly failed in the Senate (51-49). While the failure provides the Trump administration with more latitude, the close vote demonstrates a growing concern about the potential for unauthorized military action. This highlights the constitutional battle unfolding alongside the geopolitical maneuvering.
A Dangerous Precedent: The Erosion of International Norms
The current trajectory is deeply concerning. The normalization of extrajudicial killings, the open discussion of assassination, and the aggressive military buildup represent a dangerous erosion of international norms and the rule of law. The U.S. risks alienating allies, emboldening adversaries, and further destabilizing a region already grappling with significant challenges. The specter of “gunboat diplomacy” – the use of military force to intimidate or coerce other nations – has returned, and with it, the potential for a catastrophic miscalculation. What are your predictions for the future of U.S. foreign policy in Latin America? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
