Trump questioned on oil motive behind Venezuela attack, gives sharp reply

Washington (The Uttam Hindu): President Donald Trump has clarified his position regarding 'Operation Absolute Resolve' launched by the US in Venezuela on January 3. While talking to reporters on Air Force One, when he was asked whether the arrest of Nicolas Maduro and this military attack was for the capture of oil resources or for a change of regime, Trump completely rejected it. He replied that this action was not done for any selfish interest, but to establish "peace on earth". It is noteworthy that in this operation, the US Army stormed the capital Caracas and arrested President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores.

To justify his actions, President Trump cited the historic 1823 Monroe Doctrine, which he updated to his own style and called the Don-Roe Doctrine. He emphasized that the Western Hemisphere is America's sphere of influence and that maintaining peace there is his priority. Trump said that previous US presidents had forgotten this principle, but he had not. Following Maduro's arrest, Trump called Venezuela a "dead country" and declared that the US would maintain control there until everything was secure. He also sarcastically stated that if he had lost the election, the US would be in a similar situation to Venezuela today.

Operation Absolute Resolve wasn't an overnight decision, but rather the result of months of intelligence preparation. The CIA had been monitoring Maduro's every move for a long time. During the attack, more than 150 US aircraft first completely destroyed Venezuela's air defense system, immediately followed by helicopter landing of special forces, including Delta Force. President Trump called it a shining example of US military power and expressed satisfaction that none of his soldiers were killed in this extremely risky mission.

The arrested Nicolás Maduro has now been taken to New York, where he will be tried on serious charges of narco-terrorism and drug trafficking. However, this unilateral US military action has drawn sharp international reactions. Many countries have condemned the operation, calling it a blatant violation of international law and accusing it of violating sovereignty.