TEHRAN – An American professor of international affairs has warned that the world is slipping into “a veritable jungle” as US President Donald Trump openly threatens to attack deep into Venezuela, alleging that the Latin American country is engaged in drug trafficking.
Professor Hossein Askari said in an interview with Tehran Times that President Trump’s “threats against Venezuela are based on lies and hypocrisy” but are mainly aimed at diverting attention from domestic issues, especially the Epstein case.
The United States is building up its forces in the Caribbean with warships, fighters, bombers, Marines, drones, and reconnaissance aircraft. This is the largest expansion in decades. According to the BBC, long-range B-52 bombers conducted a “bomber attack demonstration” off the coast of Venezuela. The United States said dozens of people were killed in an attack on a small boat from Venezuela that it said was transporting “drugs” and “narco-terrorists” but did not provide evidence or details about the people on board.
Ascari, a former lecturer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), firmly believes the Trump administration’s actions toward Venezuela are “absolutely” reckless, lamenting that “the United States threatens the rule of law at the international level.”
The text of the interview is as follows:
Statements from US officials openly indicate that a Pentagon attack on Venezuela is imminent, alleging that the Maduro regime is an accomplice in drug trafficking to the US. Is the Trump administration pushing the fragile world order further toward anarchism, especially since President Maduro’s involvement in drug trafficking remains unproven?
These threats against Maduro and Venezuela are a travesty. As you pointed out, there is no evidence of drug trafficking. Additionally, U.S. data shows that more than 90 percent of medicines entering the United States come from the Pacific Ocean rather than the Atlantic Ocean. President Trump also just pardoned former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was tried and sentenced to life in prison for drug trafficking. Hernandez was also an accomplice of the infamous “El Chapo.” Yet he was forgiven! This amnesty is insane and undermines references to human trafficking by others. Threats against Venezuela are based on lies and hypocrisy.
“Threats against Maduro and Venezuela are a travesty.”
So far, the United States has taken extreme actions such as targeting Venezuelan fishing boats in the Caribbean and ordering President Maduro to leave the country. Do these actions and statements indicate that President Trump wants to restore the Monroe Doctrine in South America?
A: As you know, the Monroe Doctrine warned Europeans not to get involved in Latin American affairs, while the United States promised not to get involved in European affairs. The world is very different today. The United States wants preferential access not only to Latin America but to the rest of the world, as it warns other countries not to interfere with its interests. This is much more global than the Monroe Doctrine, but it will not last long and will never be successful. Sadly, America has more and more enemies.
In general, don’t you think these actions are reckless and dangerous?
absolutely. The United States threatens the rule of law at the international level. This is just the latest episode. Let’s take a look at its actions in the UNSC. He vetoed the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. It imposed sanctions on the allies and their leaders, including international judges at the ICC who ruled against Mr. Netanyahu. There needs to be a punitive policy against South Africa for referring Israel to the ICJ. It goes on and on. The international system adopted after World War II uses life support equipment. On top of all this, President Trump treats immigrants like trash, calling them “trash” who must be kicked out of the United States. America is losing the world that admired its policies after World War II. I’m very pessimistic.
What do these ultimatums for Venezuela mean for the world?
A: International safeguards are collapsing. We cannot rely on the United Nations or Western countries to protect the weak and the victims. If we don’t do something soon to turn the ship around, the world will become a veritable jungle.
Given the US president’s great love for oil and disdain for renewable energy, some argue that President Trump’s political, economic, and military pressure on Venezuela is aimed at controlling Venezuela’s oil resources. what is your opinion?
“The international system adopted after World War II is on life support.”
Oil is part of it, but not all of it. President Trump has problems at home. He is involved in the Epstein scandal. His tariff policy is unpopular. His promise to make everything more affordable for Americans has failed as more people live paycheck to paycheck. Even his full-throated support for Israel is becoming increasingly unpopular as Americans suffer while America donates money to Israel, whose per capita income rivals that of France. So all of this is a distraction from his own domestic problems. But he might argue that the United States could become richer and more popular if he could brag about gaining access to Venezuelan oil. That’s a long shot. Also keep in mind that although Venezuela has the world’s largest oil reserves, its crude oil is very heavy with high sulfur content, making it much more expensive to extract and refine.
Is President Trump sending a message to leftist governments in the Americas by dispatching the world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald? R. Ford off the coast of Venezuela?
A: Yes, Trump always makes threats to gain the obedience of his opponents. It worked well in the US, so he plans to do the same internationally. And it even threatens to bomb countries, as it did against Iran. ”
If the United States wants to bring democracy to Venezuela, as Trump and some Republicans claim, then there are autocratic rulers in the world who are friends with Trump. If this claim is true, how can these disputes be reconciled?
A: You must be kidding. Trump has no interest in democracy. He is destroying it in the United States, and would rather deal with friendly foreign dictators who do his bidding than negotiate with a “pesky” democratic Congress and government.