Stop the War on Venezuela

British socialists stand with Venezuelan Workers and Indigenous Venezuelan People

As worldwide protests, including many across the UK, demand ‘hands-off Venezuela’, that the Venezuelan people govern themselves, the ISL fully support the demands of the protests and further demands the British government condemn the invasion as well as the capture of president Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

However, at the same time we condemn Maduro’s oppressive, criminal and illegitimate regime and its brutality against the Venezuelan people. We support the working class and the indigenous people of Venezuela including imprisoned anti-imperialist fighters critical of Maduro and his regime and who oppose imperialism and poverty.

The U.S. military intervention was not an act to liberate the country but to run the country – a declaration of war by a far-right US president. We defend the right of the people of Venezuela and their right of self-determination to govern themselves.

The Venezuelan government state the US launched a series of strikes against civilian and military targets on 3 January. A New York Times report claims at least 40 people, civilians and soldiers, died in the attack.

Since August 2025, Trump directs the deployment of a massive armada to the waters of Venezuela, expanding sanctions, increasing the US military presence in the region, striking and sinking dozens of allegedly drug vessels in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, reportedly killing 110 people, allegedly narco-terrorists.

In December the US began a blockade and seized oil tankers in Venezuelan waters to choke the Venezuelan economy, based mainly on oil.

Donald Trump said, “I will not start but stop wars; my measure of success will be not how many battles I start but how many I stop!” However, the US continues to arm Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, and is directly involved in military actions in Nigeria, Somalia, Syria and Yemen, and began 2026 with a large-scale military strikes against Venezuela.

On 4 January Trump declared his colonialist ambitions, that the United States plan to “run” Venezuela for an unspecified period, threatening: do as you are told or there will be a “second wave” of military action –  if there is resistance on the ground or from Venezuelan government officials, he asserts, “We’re not afraid of boots on the ground.”

“The Trump administration’s recently published document on National Security Strategy explicitly states its goal of having puppet governments in Latin America. Pro-imperialist governments that implement neoliberal plans and open the economy to multinationals are no longer enough. They want far-right governments that are completely subservient to Trump.”^[i]

Trump said, to be clear “We’re going to run the country”. He also warned on 4 January that Colombia should “watch his ass.” Threats are also made against Greenland and Cuba. So, any Latin American country that does not obey the US and open itself to further US multi-nationals may receive the same treatment – ‘gunboat diplomacy’ grab territory and resources using threats of war and violence!

Trump asserts, “the United States would be involved in Venezuela for the foreseeable future.” As there is “no way” elections can be held within the next month.

Looking back, in 1823 President James Monroe’s annual message to Congress contained the Monroe Doctrine, establishing a prohibition on colonisation of the Americas by European countries, a doctrine to establish U.S. hegemony in Latin America and the Caribbean and the creation of many brutal dictatorships.

Just hours before American commandos seized Maduro a senior Chinese official met the Venezuelan leader at the presidential palace. The timing was a clear warning to Chinese imperialism – do not enter our backyard.

The White House cited and updated the Monroe Doctrine, referencing as the ‘Donroe Doctrine’ to justify its actions against Maduro, subordinating international law to national interest. Stephen Miller, a top aide to Trump said, “We live in a world… that is governed by strength, that is governed by force, that is governed by power”. Clearly, international laws do not apply – acting unilaterally and selectively in their own interests. In reality, what is governing the world is inter-imperialist conflict between the USA and China’s growing links in Latin America. No-one should accept the events on 3 January, they are a drive to war and to impose dictatorships!

Hands off Venezuela

Keir Starmer is saying as little as possible about Trump’s colonialist assault, refusing to say the military actions are against international law, as former human rights lawyer who specialized in international law! He and his government say they need more facts, as they spinelessly hedge their bets so as not to offend Trump and his recolonisation of Venezuela with plans to take control of oil sales ‘indefinitely’ with the aim of strengthening the US economy and its hold over Latin America. We demand the British government denounce the illegal attack on Venezuela, its people and its resources and support its right to self-determination.

Prior to the invasion of Iraq 2003, the US and British governments lied about ‘weapons of mass destruction’. President Bush said he wanted “to end brutal human rights abuses” and “promote democracy!” The invasion killed hundreds of thousands of Iraqis in its gory trail of destruction. Democracy, workers’ or indigenous rights can never be delivered by invasion or bombs! Bush and Blair lied (British PM at the time), similarly Trump makes unqualified assertions that Maduro’s regime is directing the drug cartels.

“As part of the International Trade Union Network of Solidarity and Struggle, we are in contact with our comrades in the National Committee of Workers in Struggle in Venezuela, who have been fighting for years against Maduro’s anti-social and freedom-destroying regime. But the Venezuelan people do not want to fall under the yoke of American imperialism in order to free themselves from Maduro’s regime!”^[ii]

The Venezuelan people must decide their own destiny and govern themselves. Trump says he will run the country, as with British colonialism/imperialism that means he will impose his dictatorship on workers, the downtrodden and the poor.

We call for maximum support for the worldwide protests demanding ‘hands-off Venezuela’ – that everyone join the protests. We call on the pro-Palestinian movement, students organisations, trade unions, popular movements, and human rights organisations to organise mass demonstrations denouncing the invasion of Venezuela, calling on the British government to condemn war crimes being committed by Trump and his government and demand an immediate end to imperialist aggression.

First published here by International Socialist League (IWL-FI)