Link to Article: https://latinamericanpost.com/analysis-en/venezuelas-war-games-and-u-s-patrols-turn-the-caribbean-into-a-powder-keg/
On September 2, the United States released a video of them destroying a small vessel in international waters and killed 11 members. The U.S claimed that the members on board were from a terrorist group and were transporting drugs. Venezuela, however, denied these allegations and said that the 11 killed were actually citizens. The whole situation has caused conflict with the United States and Venezuela, as some see the U.S’s actions as a decision outside their jurisdiction. The threat of losing sovereignty has caused the government of Venezuela to urge its people to form militias and work and train alongside military soldiers.
This issue is important because determining how the U.S will respond to criticism about their decision, it could set a precedent and allow the U.S to expand its political scope beyond its borders. The United States may be welcome in the caribbean, but we are getting too comfortable. Its military presence is beginning to threaten the power of South American states. I do think that drug smuggling is a very big problem for U.S border control, but our borders don’t just get bigger because our problems do. Venezuela’s reaction to these over the line decisions are extreme, but justifiable. The government would not form a militia if it didn’t feel a serious threat was approaching them. I think that the U.S needs to communicate with other nations instead of making its own decisions.
The two main stakeholders in this situation are the United States and Venezuela along with other South American Nations. One way the U.S could respond is by dialing back. This doesn’t mean they have to allow drug trafficking to happen in the Caribbean, it just means they should form alliances and deals with the Caribbean states and even South American states in order to have a more fair control of the area. Venezuela can respond by also forming alliances with its neighboring countries. This could help to defer the U.S from continuing to pursue their mission too far. I think this would also be extra good, because the U.S is seen as a superpower and I think a support circle in South America would cause the U.S to take those countries more seriously and as more of a threat.
These events relate to the IB themes of Peace and Conflict by trying to solve problems instead of resorting to war. Since Venezuela is already forming a militia, I think it is very crucial that the U.S back off so they can avoid a conflict. Another theme this relates to is Rights and Justice. Venezuela, along with many other states, feel their sovereignty is threatened with the U.S military presence so close to them and in international waters. All states have a right to their sovereignty and it is the biggest thing that gives them power. So, when their power source could possibly be in danger it causes an extreme reaction.