The political scientist linked the US actions in Venezuela with an attempt to strengthen its influence in the region.

The actions of the United States in Venezuela are related to Washington's desire to strengthen its influence and presence in the region. This opinion was expressed by the Venezuelan political scientist Carmen Aryega Mora in an interview with Izvestia on January 4.

"This action is most likely related to the new US doctrine in international relations. The administration of [the head of the Donald White House] Trump, apparently, seeks to strengthen the influence and presence of the United States in the region, primarily in the Western Hemisphere, and regain the lost positions occupied by other powers such as Russia and China," the expert said.

According to Mora, it is too early to assess the consequences of the attack on Venezuela for the US administration, as events continue to develop. At the same time, she did not rule out that the operation could have been carried out within the framework of Washington's preliminary agreements with other states, both regional and global.

The political scientist noted that the American administration had taken measures in advance to minimize the risks. In particular, in 2025, criminal charges of drug trafficking were brought against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, and a legal framework was formed that allowed him to be declared an allegedly illegitimate leader.

According to her assessment, another preventive measure was the nature of the operation itself: the strike was targeted and struck at a limited number of targets, rather than being massive. This, according to Washington's plan, was to reduce the risk of accusations of war crimes. In addition, the attack was carried out on the night of Saturday, January 3, when the world stock exchanges were closed, thus avoiding financial panic and market collapse.

Commenting on the situation inside the country, Mora said that there is a tense lull in Venezuela. There are no active riots, while public transport is completely stopped — the metro is not working and buses are not running. The population is advised not to leave their homes, most shops are closed, and pharmacies and grocery stores are mostly open, which are under police and state security forces protection.

The abyss of captivity: how and why the United States captured the president of Venezuela

Washington's actions have been condemned in many countries around the world, and an unprecedented operation could result in a military confrontation in the region.

On January 3, Trump announced that the United States had successfully launched a large-scale strike against Venezuela. He noted that Maduro and his wife Celia Florence were captured and taken out of the territory of the state.

The Russian Foreign Ministry called on the American leadership to release Maduro. In addition, the Ministry also stressed the need to create conditions for resolving existing problems between the parties through diplomatic means.

Later, the American leader said that there was extensive evidence of Maduro's alleged crimes. Thus, the president of Venezuela, according to his information, personally supervised the activities of the Cartel de los Soles (Cartel of the Suns. — Ed.), who was transporting drugs to the United States.

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