Last week I shared my concerns on President Donald Trump “America First” agenda as a threat to the world. My concerns were followed with the illegal arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The arrest has sparked global concern about sovereignty, international law, and the safety of weaker nations in a world dominated by powerful nations. With “America First” agenda, it is clear that the world is becoming a more unstable than before.
Trump interests for Venezuela cannot be understood without recognising its vast natural resources. Venezuela with the world’s largest proven oil reserves, has long been a strategic target in global power politics. Under the late Hugo Chávez, and now Maduro, reduced US influence by nationalising oil resources and aligning with rivals such as Russia and China.
While Maduro’s has been criticised for authoritarianism, economic mismanagement, and human rights abuses, his illegal arrest is better explained by resource interests rather than genuine commitment to democracy. If democracy was the true motive, similar actions would be taken against other authoritarian allies of the US.
This pattern informs us that oil and strategic control not democratic values are the central drivers. And this sets a dangerous precedent where resource-rich countries are targeted for resisting external dominance, making the global order more unstable and unsafe for weaker nations.
The arrest of Maduro therefore, outside international legal processes sets a very dangerous precedent. Regardless of one’s opinion about Maduro, no country should have the right to arrest the sitting president of another sovereign state. This has weakened international law and turned global politics into a game where power matters more than rules.
And when we condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, what is the difference with the US actions in Venezuela, what differs is the language, not the principle. International law being applied selectively. The world cannot condemn Russia while excusing the US. This exposes clear double standards and undermines the credibility of the global rules based on international law.
For Africa, the situation offers serious lessons. We are blessed with natural resources. Just as Venezuela’s oil, Africa’s vast reserves of minerals such as lithium, cobalt, uranium, gold, rare earths, oil, gas, including our Kasiya world largest natural rutile deposit of (1.8 billion tonnes) and flake deposit the second largest in the world making the continent strategically important. In a global environment where power dominates, Trump will definitely come massively after our minerals.
Africa must therefore guard its minerals firmly. But this will require strong and enforced laws, transparent and fair contracts, accountable leadership, and limiting foreign capture of extractive sectors. Without these safeguards, we are in for exploitation even by force like Venezuela.
Above all without unity, Africa remains weak to resist unfair agreements and illegal external interventions. It is time we reduced reliance on powerful nations, and focus on strengthening intra-African trade, adding value to minerals locally, with maintaining of an active civil society and independent media. These are key to protecting Africa’s interests from unstable global order.
The arrest of Maduro and aggressive application of “America First” agenda therefore shows how fragile the world has become. When powerful countries ignore international law, no nation is truly safe. Africa must learn from Venezuela, protect our sovereignty, guard our natural resources and stand united. The choice is ours!
