Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter prohibits the threat or use of force except in narrowly defined circumstances of self-defence. Under jus ad bellum, force is justified only by the necessity of self-defense, not by drug interdiction or prosecution of narcotics traffickers.
The authoritarian government of Nicolás Maduro has denied the will of the Venezuelan people as expressed in elections of 2024 and has systematically violated human rights and due process (see, for example, LASA statements a, b, and c). It has also refused to negotiate in good faith to achieve a peaceful, democratic solution to the suffering of Venezuelans inside and outside the country. However, the U.S. administration’s justification for intervention is flawed: the apprehension of a foreign leader on the grounds of law enforcement is inconsistent with the U.S. president’s stated goal to “run the country“ and rebuild the oil industry.
This military action is consistent with the Trump administration’s return to a new and more aggressive version of the Monroe Doctrine, reiterated by the President in his press conference on January 3. In this view, the Americas are part of the U.S. sphere of influence, and the U.S. has the right to dominate countries in the Western Hemisphere through police actions. This approach was clearly outlined in the recent National Security Strategy.
The Trump administration’s extension of the Monroe Doctrine ignores the lessons of past interventions. It undermines the region’s long-standing commitments to non-intervention, peaceful dispute resolution, and state sovereignty. It fractures hemispheric co-operation, deepens polarisation within the region, and reopens wounds caused by foreign intervention in the past.
LASA affirms the importance of diplomatic, multilateral negotiations, based on the principles of the international law that the United States itself helped construct after 1945. We also recognize the sovereignty of the Venezuelan people over their resources. We therefore reject any future hostilities, oppose efforts to impose regime change from abroad, and call for multilateral action to find a path forward for a peaceful and inclusive future for Venezuelans and the region.
About LASA
The Latin American Studies Association (LASA) is the largest professional association in the world for individuals and institutions engaged in the study of Latin America. With over 13,000 members, over 60% of whom reside outside the United States, LASA is the one association that brings together experts on Latin America from all disciplines and diverse occupational endeavors, across the globe. LASA's mission is to foster intellectual discussion, research, and teaching on Latin America, the Caribbean, and its people throughout the Americas, promote the interests of its diverse membership, and encourage civic engagement through network building and public debate.
If you wish to interview a LASA Executive Council member, you can contact the LASA communications office at (412) 648-7929 or send an email to lasa@lasaweb.org.