“The defense of Venezuelan sovereignty is inseparable from the defense of Philippine sovereignty.”
MANILA – The recent large-scale military offensives of the United States (US) against Venezuela expose the nature of US imperialism.
“The US aggression against Venezuela is not about peace, democracy, or combating crime. It is driven by the same motive that has fueled countless wars across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East: control over strategic resources and the suppression of independent, anti-imperialist projects,” Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said in a statement.
US President Donald Trump said that they carried out airstrikes and bombings in Caracas, Venezuela in the early morning of January 3. He also authorized the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores.
The Supreme Court of Venezuela appointed Vice President Delcy Rodriguez as interim President on January 4. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela denounced the latest military attack, citing violations of the United Nations (UN) Charter.
Articles 1 and 2 of the UN Charter state that the UN ensures the prevention of such aggression and fosters mutual respect based on equal rights and self-determination. The provisions also oblige member-states to settle international disputes by peaceful means and to refrain from using force.
Read: US military aggression in Venezuela violates int’l human rights law
Bayan said that the bombings are a clear violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty, international law, and the collective right to self-determination. “What is happening in Venezuela today once again exposes the true nature of US imperialism as a principal source of war, instability, and repression in the world.”
The International League of Peoples Struggles (ILPS) Philippine chapter expressed solidarity with the people of Venezuela. It stressed that US imperialism has been targeting Venezuela to assert control over its strategic resources.
Venezuela has the largest oil reserve in the world with more than 300 billion barrels, according to the BP Statistical Review of World Energy. The US is claiming ownership of this oil, as suggested by White House deputy chief of staff.
In a press conference, Trump said that the US will be running Venezuela for now, which the Venezuelan government rejected. The International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL) said that it is a violation of the Venezuelan people’s right to self-determination, guaranteed under Article 1(2) of the UN charter.
The international lawyers also questioned the legality of US military actions as it constituted flagrant violations of several fundamental principles of international law.
Article 2(4) of the UN Charter requires States to “refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations.”
For IADL, these US military actions undermined Venezuelan sovereignty and independence and threatened other countries not aligned with US foreign policy in the region.
They expressed solidarity with the Venezuelan people. They called on the international community, the UN Security Council, and all UN member-states to take all necessary steps to stop the military aggression on Venezuela and to hold the US and its accomplices accountable for its crimes.
In 2025, the US bombed at least seven countries including Syria, Iraq, Iran, Nigeria, Yemen, Somalia, and Venezuela. According to the Cost of War Project, the US also gave more than $21 billion to Israel in its genocidal war on Gaza.
“The same imperialist power that bombs Caracas maintains military forces, rotational troops, and access to bases on Philippine soil,” Bayan said. “This reality endangers our own people and entangles the country in wars that serve only US interests.”
With the unfolding US military actions against other countries, Bayan condemned the administration of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for promoting the US geopolitical agenda. “Genuine national sovereignty and lasting peace are impossible while foreign military forces operate freely in our country,” Bayan added, calling for the removal of all US military bases, troops, and facilities in the Philippines under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).
Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co, ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, and Gabriela Party-list Rep. Sarah Elago called on the Marcos Jr. administration to condemn US military aggression against Venezuela. “Today it is Venezuela and President Maduro; tomorrow it could be any nation or leader that dares to chart an independent path. Kung hindi tayo tutol ngayon, tayo naman ang susunod,” the three Makabayan bloc lawmakers said in a statement.
They also demanded the cancellation of Trump’s planned visit this year in the Philippines and for the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to raise the matter in the UN, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the Non-Aligned Movement. ILPS said, “The defense of Venezuelan sovereignty is inseparable from the defense of Philippine sovereignty.”
Many countries around the world, including the neighboring countries in Latin America, African Union, Russia, and China, condemned the military attacks against Venezuela’s institutions and the abduction of Maduro and Flores. They were accused of narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and weapons offenses. These charges have been denounced by the Venezuelan government as they are politically-motivated and baseless. (AMU, DAA)
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