Is Putin Next? Latvia Holds Its Breath Watching Trump's Actions 0 12

The main thesis is that if the U.S. president has succeeded so well in a large country in Latin America, then why not extend that experience further. It cites the opinion of local international relations expert Maris Andžāns, who believes that "the drug cartels and arms trade in Venezuela are the formal reasons for Trump's actions, while the foundation is the Monroe Doctrine."

"On December 2, 1823, U.S. President James Monroe, in his annual address to Congress, articulated foreign policy principles that later became known as the 'Monroe Doctrine.' In short and simple terms, it was the principle of 'America for Americans.' That is, the U.S. does not believe it should interfere in the relationships of European nations, and in turn expects that European powers will not create spheres of influence on the American continent. And 'Trump has just reaffirmed this,' says Andžāns. 'Trump has never liked socialists and communists, and Venezuela was created by a socialist dictatorship. This is about ideology,' says Andžāns. But this is not the main aspect. The main thing is oil, of which Venezuela is extremely rich."

Historian and political scientist Karlis Daukaštis, in a conversation with the publication, also "expressed confidence that the reason for Trump's broad and sudden attack on Venezuela and its president is not drugs or anything else." "Trump is interested in oil. No pipeline or processing plant has been harmed. Trump does not hide: 'We will manage Venezuela.' He has not yet chosen any logical transition to state management. Can Americans manage the already existing management structure? Even if it is criminal, it is a real structure. But the most important message from Trump: 'I dominate the world right now.'

"So next up should be Canada with Greenland. 'And his task is to destroy Europe,' says the political scientist. In the same regions that are near Latvia, the leader who should be most concerned is... Ukraine. 'Because the same thing could happen to Zelensky. Putin keeps repeating that Zelensky was not legitimately elected to govern the state. Suddenly, a thought emerged in Moscow: you, Putin, have been tangled up with Zelensky for four years, while the Americans 'sorted it out' in one day. How far this agreement between Trump and Putin goes, I do not know,' admits Karlis Daukaštis.

"Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world, but Venezuelan oil has one peculiarity: it is very similar to Russian oil, it has many impurities. The U.S. has only two refineries that can turn Venezuelan oil into gasoline. Russians are currently catastrophically short of gasoline. As for drugs, that is just an excuse."

Daukaštis ironizes about international law, speaking of the kidnapping of Maduro and his wife, since after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, this so-called law has received another blow. "And this blow is already becoming a dangerous precedent for other states," Daukaštis believes, "some political scientists say that now we should start fearing Putin. I doubt it. But at the same time, nothing can be excluded."

The press was reviewed by Nikita KRASNOGLOZOV