ALBAWABA - A U.S. congressman has sharply criticized the reported U.S. military action in Venezuela and the claimed arrest of President Nicolás Maduro, warning that such actions could set a dangerous international precedent.
Democratic Representative Ro Khanna condemned the strikes and detentions, arguing that President Donald Trump had abandoned his campaign pledge to avoid foreign wars by launching what he described as an unnecessary intervention aimed at regime change in Venezuela.
In a post on X, Khanna questioned how Washington would respond if other global powers adopted similar tactics. He asked whether the United States would accept a scenario in which Xi Jinping attempted to arrest Taiwan’s president, or if Vladimir Putin sought to detain Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Trump’s Claims and Military Developments
Venezuela was shaken earlier today by airstrikes, with reports indicating they struck both civilian and military sites. Trump announced that the United States had launched a significant operation against Venezuela's government, alleging that Maduro and his wife had been apprehended and subsequently flown to New York.
U.S. officials have yet to provide independent confirmation or detailed evidence to back up these assertions.
Criticism of U.S. Foreign Policy
Khanna drew parallels between the reported operation and past U.S. military actions in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya, characterizing them as expensive and ill-conceived.
He contended that previous governments have been swayed by a foreign policy establishment favoring militarization, resulting in conflicts abroad even as economic troubles festered at home.
He called on Americans to reject increased defense spending and renewed war cries, advocating a return to the founding principles of the nation: a restrained foreign policy and a greater focus on domestic needs like jobs, healthcare, education, and childcare.
Internationally, the reported operation has drawn criticism from several nations, including China, Russia, France, and South Africa, along with various Latin American countries.
This incident has sparked renewed discussion about the legality and wider consequences of unilateral military actions, and their potential effects on global standards and international stability.
