It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
Sunday, January 11, 2026
UK
No war on Venezuela! Stop Trump’s global war drive – CND
“Trump’s actions have shown that the attacks on Venezuela have nothing to do with drug trafficking and everything to do with regime change to secure the country’s vast oil reserves – the largest in the world.”
By Sophie Bolt, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
The US illegal attack on Venezuela and the kidnapping of its President mark the acceleration of Trump’s global war drive and the further undermining of the framework of international law. The use of force against Venezuela is in direct violation of Article 2(4) of the Charter of the United Nations. It also contravenes the core legal principles of the Organization of American States and the declaration of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace by the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), including respect for sovereignty, non-intervention, and peaceful coexistence.
The illegal assault on Venezuela has been characterised by the scale of US military aggression. Reports suggest that the US attack included Tomahawk cruise missiles, F-35 fighter jets with more than 150 US aircraft deployed. This followed months of a huge military build-up on Venezuela’s coast to threaten the population, including nuclear-capable B52 long-range bombers that had been making flights from the US to the Venezuelan coast. This has threatened the 1967 nuclear free zone Treaty of Tlatelolco which includes Latin America and the Caribbean and has been the cornerstone of regional stability.
Trump is now threatening the entire population with further strikes if they do not submit to the US and has Cuba and other Latin American countries in his sights. He is also intensifying threats against Greenland – the autonomous territory in NATO member state Denmark – which is rich in minerals and, because of the impact of climate change, is now placed at new trade routes in the Arctic.
Trump’s actions have shown that the attacks on Venezuela have nothing to do with drug trafficking and everything to do with regime change to secure the country’s vast oil reserves – the largest in the world. According to UN experts, the US oil blockade – which they describe as the “unilateral coercive measures… including a naval blockade and the armed seizure of tankers” – is also contrary to international and humanitarian law.
Outrageously, the British government has actively facilitated the seizure of the Marinera oil tanker – meaning it too is likely breaching international law. It’s military involvement has been extensive. Surveillance aircraft RAF Rivet Joint, based at RAF Waddington, participated, together with British naval vessel RFA Tideforce which gave refuelling support to US forces. The US P-8 Poseidon aircraft that took part in the seizure flew from RAF Mildenhall. Evidence suggests that US aircraft pilots trained at RAF Fairford in preparation for the illegal seizure. US activity at these two bases is increasing, indicating preparations for further actions against Venezuela, or possibly Greenland.
This is just another example of Britain’s critical role in Trump’s global war. Deadly US nuclear bombs are now stationed at RAF Lakenheath that can be launched with nuclear-capable F35A fighter jets – jets that Britain is also buying to expand its nuclear capability for NATO.
The objectives behind Trump’s attacks on Venezuela are starkly laid out in the US National Security Strategy. It asserts that the US needs to restore its “pre-eminence” in the world, so that no other nation can challenge it, meaning the US can “assert ourselves confidently where and when we need to”. Central to this strategy is increasing even further the US’s overwhelming military might including the “most robust, credible and modern nuclear deterrent”. Hence Trump’s calls for a $1.5 trillion 2027 military budget.
The US’s brutal self-interest, which Trump’s attacks reveal, threatens all countries whose resources or geopolitical importance the US views as theirs for the taking. It reflects a world order that facilitates genocide, is accelerating climate breakdown and dragging the world closer to nuclear war.
Across the world, the movement for an alternative to war and the threat of nuclear weapons is growing, for a world based on global cooperation, peace and respect for international law. Opposition to the attacks on Venezuela are significant and growing too. In the US both Democrats and Republicans have condemned the actions and are supporting ‘war powers’ legislation to stop Trump from taking further action against Venezuela without authorisation from Congress. In Britain the trade union movement has come out strongly against the action.
With the nuclear threats rising, now more than ever, we must work together to build that movement.
Join CND at the emergency demonstration on Saturday 10 January at Downing Street which takes place at 1pm. Organised by Venezuela Solidarity Campaign, CND and Stop the War.
No To Trump’s War on Venezuela – Protest 10 January.
CND is also supporting the demonstration at RAF Fairford on Sunday 18 January, organised by DroneWars, NukeWatch against the use of the base in the assault on Venezuela . Look out for details here.
Sophie Bolt is the General Secretary of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND). You can follow her on Twitter/X and follow the CND on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter/X.
“The military seizure of an empty Russian oil tanker in international waters is potentially an act of war. It is an utter disgrace and beyond irresponsible for Britain to collude in this episode.”
Stop the War respond to the UK assisting the US seizure of a Russian oil tanker, collaborating in US actions that are hurtling us towards wider conflict and potential catastrophe.
Stop the War is appalled to hear that a British base, British ‘enabling support’ and British armed forces were used in the illegal seizure of a Russian flagged oil tanker today (7 January) by US forces, close to British waters. The government has confirmed that the RAF also provided surveillance support from the air.
The empty tanker was apparently en route to Russia.
This act of piracy follows the US military kidnapping of the Venezuelan President and his wife, the claim by US President Trump that the US now is in charge of Venezuela, and the announcement that the US is taking billions of dollars worth of Venezuelan oil.
The military seizure of an empty Russian oil tanker in international waters is potentially an act of war. It is an utter disgrace and beyond irresponsible for Britain to collude in this episode and almost unbelievable that the Defence Secretary has said the government will ‘continue to step up our action against shadow fleet activity.’
It is clear to the world that US actions are hurtling us towards wider conflict and potential catastrophe. We demand that the British government immediately stops all involvement with the illegal, provocative and more and more extreme actions of President Trump, and publicly condemns Trump’s gangsterism.
The anti-war movement will be mobilising across the country in the coming days to insist on de-escalation and worldwide condemnation of Trump’s actions.
Get organised against Trump’s war for oil on Venezuela – Fraser McGuire
Featured image: “No war on Venezuela – no blood for oil” placard at the protest outside Downing Street against Trump’s military attack on Venezuela. 6 January 2025. Photo credit: Stop the War
“We must stand firmly against the trade of Venezuelan blood for US oil exploitation, and we must also understand that oil is not the only reason for Trump’s attacks on Maduro and Caracas.”
On Monday, a protest was held outside Downing Street against Trump’s war for oil on Venezuela, demanding Starmer condemn the military attack and defend international law. Fraser McGuire, Chair of TUC Young Workers and Unite Hospitality Organiser, called for an organised movement against the illegal US war on Venezuela. You can read an edited version of his speech below.
I’m here to bring solidarity from TUC Young Workers and Unite Hospitality – which is one of the only parts of our trade union movement who have actually seen real industrial action taken over the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
Hospitality workers in Glasgow, at the Stand Comedy Club and Glasgow Film Theatre, have successfully taken action against the sale of BDS-listed products in the workplace, as part of the wider Unite Hospitality ‘Serve Solidarity’ campaign spearheaded by the Glasgow branch.
We know that there are so many elements of the trade union movement who believe our work starts and ends at the negotiation table, limited to a reductive and narrow view of what unions can, and should achieve. These positions have no place in the movement, and must be defeated and swept away.
We must work to ensure that the trade union movement is a central pin in building a stronger anti-imperialist force here in the UK, with industrial muscle capable of taking action directly against the economic levers of imperialism in our economy.
In the past two years, we have seen a mass politicisation of segments of the public – especially young people and students – against the ongoing genocide in Gaza and more broadly against US imperialism.
But the work before us cannot be overstated; we must redouble our efforts to politicise and deepen understanding of imperialism among our colleagues and neighbours, and strengthen anti-imperialist organising in the UK.
We must stand firmly against the trade of Venezuelan blood for US oil exploitation, and we must also understand that oil is not the only reason for Trump’s attacks on Maduro and Caracas. Venezuela also poses a threat to Trump’s new ‘Monroe Doctrine’; as an alternative economic development model and the communes, as a nation that leads the construction of anti-imperialist and anti-fascist alliances, and the advancement of the Bolivarian Revolution.
We must take away the task ahead of us, back into the workplaces and the trade unions, as well as the work of political organising in communities and on the streets. We must demand the immediate, unconditional release of President Maduro and his wife.
“We must oppose the drive to war for oil, stand firm in our support for Venezuela’s sovereignty, and say clearly “hands off Venezuela”.”
By Labour Outlook
Last night, thousands gathered outside Downing Street as MPs debated Trump’s illegal kidnap of Venezuelan President, Nicolas Maduro, his wife, Cilia Flores, alongside the US bombardment of Venezuela.
The protest, organised by the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign and supported by, among others, a host of Latin America Solidarity groups, Stop the War Coalition and CND, saw the crowds chanting “hands off Venezuela” and “occupation is a crime”. Speakers, including solidarity campaigners, trade unionists and MPs, demanded that Keir Starmer condemn the US attack, which stands in clear violation of international law.
The response from the Prime Minister and wider British Government has been only to insist on waiting for the US publication of the legal basis for the abduction – a position which has rightly been derided as ‘pathetic’, not only by those on the demonstration but journalists reporting from legacy media news rooms. Recent polling suggests that the public overwhelmingly opposes Trump’s attack, which is correctly seen by many as a grab for Venezuela’s oil – not least because the President has been so clear about his aspirations to take control of the country’s abundant natural resources in the wake of the bombing and kidnapping.
As Trump puts Maduro through a show trial and intensifies his threats, not only against Venezuela but countries across Latin America, and even Greenland, we must oppose the drive to war for oil, stand firm in our support for Venezuela’s sovereignty, and say clearly “hands off Venezuela”.
“We send our solidarity to the people of Venezuela and stand with them against this violent intervention.”
By the RMT
General secretary Eddie Dempsey said: “We condemn the illegal military attack carried out by the United States of America on Venezuela which resulted in President Maduro being kidnapped by US special forces.
“In accordance with international law and respect for sovereign nations, the UK Government must demand the immediate cessation of military hostilities towards Venezuela and the return of its President.
“Only by following the UN Charter can we create a framework for peace, stability and mutual respect between nations.
“We send our solidarity to the people of Venezuela and stand with them against this violent intervention.”
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