Theatre of war?! – Trump and co release stylised shots of ‘watching the Venezuela strikes’
VIORY
The White House released images of Donald Trump and his key team ‘watching the strikes on Venezuela’ on Saturday.
Footage shows stylised shots – including one in black and white – with marked similarities to images from a theatrical production.
The US launched ‘large-scale’ strikes on Venezuela on Saturday, with Donald Trump claiming his forces had ‘captured’ President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi said the Venezuelan leader was charged with a ‘narco-terrorism conspiracy’, and other drugs and weapons charges.
Caracas declared a national emergency, condemned ‘extremely serious military aggression’ and said the US was trying to “seize Venezuela’s strategic resources, particularly its oil and minerals”.
It saw widespread worldwide condemnation, including from Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Chile and others in Latin America, as well as from BRICS nations like Russia and China. The EU and European nations called for ‘international law’ to be respected.
Opposition leader – and controversial Nobel Peace Prize winner – Maria Machado said that her party was “ready to enforce the mandate and take power.” She refused to recognise Maduro’s 2024 election win, claiming her side won.
It comes after weeks of US military action – ‘Operation Southern Spear’ – which saw tankers intercepted and strikes on alleged ‘narco boats’. The US has built up a heavy military presence, including the USS Gerald R Ford carrier strike group and about 15,000 personnel in the Caribbean Sea.
Just 24 hours earlier, Maduro had said he was open to ‘serious’ talks with Washington on combating drug trafficking and oil. Caracas previously insisted the US was intent on ‘regime change’.
