Editorial | US strike on Venezuela signals worrying return to gunboat diplomacy

The world is coming to terms with the shock of the United States’ blatant use of force against Venezuela and the carefully planned abduction of its leader and his wife to face charges in the US. Few will mourn the end of the corrupt and brutal army-backed rule of president Nicolas Maduro, despite misgivings about the manner of its end. But that does not take into account the damage to a world order already strained by geopolitical tensions.

The US attack makes a mockery of President Donald Trump’s campaign pledge that Washington would stop, not start, wars and focus on domestic priorities, though Trump claimed it is not a “war” against Venezuela. The build-up of American military forces and operations off South America was initially targeted at narcoterrorism and the smuggling of cocaine out of Venezuela. But Trump now makes no effort to hide an abiding motivation – oil – and the US willingness to use force to maintain hemispheric dominance.

He told a press conference soon after the raid that the US will “run the country” for now and made it clear Washington will take control of Venezuela’s main resource – the world’s largest proven oil reserves, if not the easiest to refine. US oil giants would go back into the country and invest enough in damaged infrastructure to get oil flowing again.

At the same time, Trump pledged that the flow of Venezuelan oil to China would be maintained. That prompts reflection on what a return to gunboat diplomacy and resorting to force to secure resources mean to China. It does nothing for the stability of Latin American nations seen as part of the US backyard.

There may be some impact on China’s efforts to develop the Belt and Road Initiative in the region, as well as China’s trade and economic collaboration with Venezuela. The biggest concern for Beijing in terms of the initiative and Chinese companies going global is that gunboat diplomacy can create even more uncertainties than Trump’s tariff and trade policies. With the abduction of a head of state added to the global trade and shooting wars, it is time for Hong Kong to remain calm and alert to opportunities.