Denounce U.S. Imperialist Attacks Against Venezuela! Defend Venezuelan Sovereignty!
The International Women's Alliance condemns in the strongest terms the acts of the Imperialist Trump Regime against Venezuela, including the multiple bombings by US forces on the capital of Caracas and other strategic locations, and the abduction of Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores by US Special Forces. Questions of the legality of the action have been raised, given that Trump bypassed the required approval process by Congress before engaging in armed conflict knowing full well the American people would reject the idea of engaging in another war. According to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the justification for this operation is mainly under the DOJ’s indictment charges of Maduro and Flores of narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy and two illegal weapons counts from 2020.
In a press conference held in Caracas, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez called on the people of Venezuela to take to the streets to defend "the most sacred thing that a homeland can have, its right to independence, to a future, and to a free homeland with no external tutelage". Rodriguez made the demands of the Venezuelan Government clear in the face of the US' imperialist aggression. IWA echos these demands:
Proof of Life of Nicolas Maduro first lady Cilia Flores
The activation of the Venezuelan people to defend Venezuela’s natural resources and independence
In the early hours of January 3, Rodriguez shared that "Venezuela is digesting a military aggression of this nature that has gone against our sovereignty, our peace, our tranquility and that has murdered innocents from Venezuela." The Venezuelan Government confirmed that US airstrikes hit the capital of Caracas Venezuela in the the early hours of January 3rd, as well as three coastal states: Miranda, a major agricultural center in Venezuela known for its rich and fertile soil; La Guaira, which holds Venezuela's largest seaport and airport; and Aragua, made famous as the state where drug cartel Tren de Aragua originated. Further reports confirmed that Venezuelan Oil facilities were not directly targeted and suffered no damage, while the port of La Guairia suffered significant damages.
In a live press conference US General Dan Cain of the Joint Chiefs of staff shared that the strikes and abduction were carried out by 150 aircraft (including F22s, F45s, F18s and other military aircraft, ships, and equipment) from 20 military bases across the western hemisphere. The attacks come as US inter-imperialist tensions with Russia and China have increased. Both Russia and China have strong relationships with Maduro's Government, with Maduro having met with Qui Xiaaqi and other dignitaries from China hours before the attack was carried out by the US. Throughout the press conference US officials boasted about the strength and “undefeated” power of US military forces, a clear effort to intimidate Russia and China and show power and might as the largest and most deadly military in the world.
While the civilian death toll has not been confirmed, it is certain that innocent women and children were killed in the US' brazen attacks against Venezuela. The bombings come after a six-month escalation by the US against Venezuela: including 35 confirmed attacks against Venezeulan fishing boats resulting in at least 115 civilian casualties. While the US has claimed the attacks are part of the Trump Regime's plan to stop international drug cartels, it is clear that it is just the most recent escalation in a long history of the US trying to intervene and gain control of Venezuelan oil production. In the US press conference Trump claimed that Venezuela had “stolen” oil from US oil companies and that following the abduction of Maduro the US government would implement a plan to provide leadership and ensure US oil companies had unrestricted access to Venezuelan oil.
Instead of conceding to US demands and intervention, Venezuela has stood strong as a government opposed to US imperialism and intervention and has served as a significant example internationally as a nation upholding its national sovereignty and independence, something the US has spent years and billions of dollars to undermine and discredit.
As the situation continues to develop, IWA stands with the people and government of Venezuela in its unwavering opposition to US Imperialism. We call on all our members to echo the demands of the Venezuelan Government: for the US to release proof of life of Nicolas Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores, and for the people of Venezuela to defend Venezuela's independence and sovereignty. We also call on our members to mobilize in support of Venezuela wherever possible, to denounce the US' imperialist actions and expose them for what they really are: an act of war against an independent country.
Long live international solidarity!
Down with US Imperialism!
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