- The Guardian
- Issue #2175
The Communist Party of Australia unequivocally condemns the Trump administration’s illegal military attack against Venezuela, including the forcible kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, carried out in blatant violation of international law.
We send our condolences to the families of the people killed during the US illegal operation among them 32 Cuban patriots who shed their blood in combat while serving an international mission in the sister Republic of Venezuela.
The implications extend far beyond Venezuela. This assault reasserts the United States as a destabilising force not only in Latin America and the Caribbean but across the globe.
What distinguishes this moment is not novelty, but brazenness: Trump’s willingness to discard even the pretence of legality and speak the imperial logic out loud. Israel’s genocide against the Palestinians marked the start of an unprecedented imperialist offensive.
In the same breath that Trump threatens Mexico, Colombia, Greenland, Cuba, Canada, and others, he has demonstrated a willingness to trample borders, normalise abductions of foreign leaders, and substitute diplomacy with force.
The nations of Latin America are in the crosshairs of this new strategy. Dominating this region is seen by the ruling class in the US as the key to holding onto global supremacy.
Building maximum resistance to US aggression requires strengthening international solidarity campaigns with Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, Colombia, and all countries facing the brunt of this offensive.
US imperialism asserts its own sovereignty as absolute while explicitly planning to violate that of nations in its declared “sphere of influence.” Venezuela is first in line.
It is also a grab for Venezuela’s oil resources.
Venezuela nationalised the projects of several companies, including ExxonMobil and Conoco-Phillips, nearly two decades ago under president Hugo Chavez.
Conoco-Phillips has been seeking billions for the takeover of three projects.
Exxon was involved in lengthy arbitration cases against Venezuela after it exited the country in 2007.
The people of Australia and other countries face a crucial test. EITHER the rule of law, collective decisions by the UN and the various covenants of the UN are to be abided by OR its replacement by US unilateralism backed up by its military power, war, occupation, bribery, threats, assassinations and the whole armoury of US coercion in the sole interests of the US imperialism. We condemn Albanese’s comments about a “democratic transition” which means he virtually condoned the US terrorist attack on Venezuela.
We call on the Albanese government to condemn the US illegal attacks on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
Hands off Venezuela
Return President Nicolas Maduro and Cilia Flores
No blood for oil
Communist Party of Australia
Central Committee
International Department
6th January 2026
