Rudolf Gaiseb
Lahja Nashuuta
Namibia’s Ministry of International Relations and Trade, alongside opposition parties, has fortified its stance against US president Donald Trump’s aggression against Venezuela.
This follows the US’ “large-scale military strike” against Venezuela and the capturing of president Nicolas Maduro in a major escalation after months of US threats to use military force against Caracas.
Trump announced the strike on social media early on Saturday, saying Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were “captured and flown out of the country”.
In response, the international relations ministry issued a statement on Sunday, saying, “In line with the United Nations’ Charter and core principles of international law, the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence of all nations must be fully respected” to enhance global peace and stability.
The ministry acknowledged and reaffirmed its “steadfast friendship, solidarity, and cooperation with Venezuela,” citing a shared history of anti-colonial struggle for self-determination and independence.
Meanwhile, the Affirmative Repositing (AR) also condemned the attack.
“We join all progressive forces around the world in condemning these heinous acts, which not only violate the sovereignty of Venezuela but also undermine international law,” party spokesperson George Kambala stated on Sunday.
They demand the immediate release of Maduro and his wife.
Kambala stated that “invasion” is unjustified, and the people of Venezuela need to stand up and defend their nation and reject any attempts to destabilise the democratic order in their country.
Also joining was the Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL).
The SPYL condemned what it described as acts of aggression against Venezuela, including the “kidnapping” of Maduro and his wife.
SPYL secretary general Ephraim Nekongo expressed that the organisation rejects actions that undermine international law, national sovereignty and the United Nations Charter.
SPYL stands in solidarity with the Venezuelan people and their leadership.
However, while agreeing that the unilateral military action to remove a president, regardless of who that leader is or what crimes they may be accused of, sets a dangerous precedent that should concern all nations, the Independent Patriots for Change did not entirely agree with the Namibian government’s position.
“IPC holds the view that the sovereignty of nations and the prohibition on the use of force enshrined in the United Nations Charter are foundational principles of the international order,” IPC parliamentarian Rodney Cloete further wrote.
Cloete asserted that the government’s view of the situation purely through the lens of “solidarity” with the Maduro government, invoking Namibia’s anti-colonial history, is “troubling”.
“Nicolás Maduro is not a liberation hero,” he said.
UN
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Stéphane Dujarric, last Saturday wrote, “The secretary-general is deeply alarmed by the recent escalation in Venezuela, culminating with today’s United States military action in the country, which has potential worrying implications for the region.” Dujarric said, independently of the situation in Venezuela, these developments constitute a dangerous precedent.
“The secretary-general continues to emphasise the importance of full respect – by all – of international law, including the UN Charter,” she added.
Meanwhile, Maduro and his wife were expected to make a court appearance yesterday.
The face charges of purported “narco-terrorism” conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.
Superpower
Some global superpowers have also reacted to the unfolding situation.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry on Saturday called for Maduro’s release.
“We firmly call on the U.S. leadership to reconsider this position and release the lawfully elected president of a sovereign country and his wife.”
Meanwhile, the Chinese foreign ministry also condemned the US’ “blatant use of force” against Venezuela, which seriously violates international law and basic norms in international relations, infringes upon Venezuela’s sovereignty, and threatens peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean region.
Commentators
Political commentator and international relations expert Ben Mulongeni said Trump’s actions against Venezuela would make both the United States and the world less safe, saying such actions set a dangerous example, allowing any country to attack another to seize resources or change governments.
He added that Trump and his administration openly supported reviving the Monroe Doctrine, the 1823 declaration by the fifth US president, James Monroe, adding that the US will “run the country” until “a safe, proper and judicious transition” can be carried out.
According to Mulongeni, their interest in Venezuela is linked to its oil reserves, the largest in the world. He described this as imperialism, saying such actions should be strongly condemned by the democratic world.
On his part, political scientist and former Member of Parliament Maximiliant Katjimune said the US has no legal right to invade a sovereign country like Venezuela or arrest its president. He explained that the sovereignty of all UN member states is protected under Article 2(1) of the UN Charter, which forbids any country from interfering in another state’s affairs.
Katjimune said the only legal way to arrest a sitting president is through the International Criminal Court (ICC) under the Rome Statute. However, he noted that this does not apply in this case because the United States is not a member of the ICC, and Maduro has not been charged by the court.
He concluded that any attempt to arrest Maduro would be a clear violation of international law and should be condemned. He warned that allowing such actions would lead to global disorder, where powerful countries act without consequences.
Additionally, political analyst Rui Tyitende said to understand the situation between Venezuela and the United States, one needs to understand how international politics functions from a realist perspective.
“The main actors in the international system are states that operate in anarchy, which means that there is no higher authority above them. All great powers have some offensive military capability, which means they have the wherewithal to hurt each other. Third, no state can know the intentions of other states with certainty, especially their future intentions,” he said.
He added that the actions of the US are nothing new, and no country, regional body, or the UN can do anything about the abduction of Maduro. “Not Russia, not China or India.”
“The Namibian government’s statement or the SPYL’s condemnation will only be heard in Namibia and will fall on deaf ears if they were to extend beyond our borders,” Tyitende said.
He believes what all these countries and their leaders will do is make statements of no political significance: “Maduro will remain a US hostage until they have sentenced him, no matter how illegal that is.”
“Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter that speaks to self-determination and sovereignty does not apply to countries like the US; it only applies to countries like the US when they bully others to comply,” he added.
Oily moves
Despite world leaders accusing him of violating international law and disrespecting Venezuela’s sovereignty, Trump remains defiant, saying further strikes are imminent on Venezuela.
Late on Saturday, Trump declared the US will run Venezuela until they can “do a safe, proper, and judicious transition”.
It has further been reported that Trump also suggested the US could hold military operations in other South American countries, including Colombia, which he said “is very sick, too” and “run by a sick man, who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States.”
– rgaiseb@gmail.com
