President Donald Trump seems to enjoy walking over Caribbean countries just like Teddy Roosevelt. Graphic courtesy of senior Aidan Field.
The U.S. military conducted an operation in Venezuela on January 3, 2026 that removed Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro from the country, bringing him to New York to face drug charges. This took many San Luis Obispo High School students by surprise and it sets a new precedent for future interventions.
This is nothing but a return to U.S. imperialism. The U.S. shouldn’t be harming independent countries to further strategic interests like Oil.
“We’re really losing sight of the regulations put in place by the government; the checks and balances are being ignored by the officials and it really leaves a bad taste in my mouth. The Trump administration is doing whatever they want right now and it’s terrifying that they seem to be getting away with anything,” said senior Charly Elston.
Venezuela is an independent country and intervening in Venezuela is a move that is likely illegal under international law.
“It is a reversion to the kind of foreign policy that was followed prior to the formation of the United Nations, when countries could go to war for whatever cause they deemed necessary and appropriate,” said Dartmouth government professor John Carey.
This intervention was justified under the Trump administration by arguing that Maduro allowed drugs to be smuggled from Venezuela into the U.S..
“Even if the president of Venezuela did smuggle drugs into the US, Trump didn’t get the proper congressional approval to arrest him. It also goes against the United Nations charter, where there is a ban on using force against a sovereign country without approval from the Security Council,” said freshman Annie Rawlings.
It seems like the Trump administration isn’t even hiding the fact that this was done specifically to secure Venezuelan oil for American companies.
Shortly after Maduro’s capture, Trump met with executives from oil companies to discuss investing in Venezuela. Trump is also seeking to control Venezuela’s exports of oil indefinitely.
“I feel like there is lack of transparency and honesty when it comes to Donald Trump’s military actions in Venezuela. I believe that the military operation was purely motivated by their oil exports and a reach for a higher sphere of influence,” said senior Hudson Zurbach.
Although Maduro was a dictator and oversaw numerous human rights abuses, including stealing an election to remain in power, his government is still intact after U.S. intervention.
The U.S. is pursuing their own interests in an independent country for the sole purpose of corporate profit.
“Students should make their thoughts known—we’re the future generation and we’re outliving these people in office and we can make things better. We should study and speak and exercise our rights because it is our right to speak out against corruption,” said Elston.
It’s now our job to speak out and not vote for politicians who have profits in mind, rather than human rights.
Sources: npr.org, thedartmouth.com, politico.com
