The United States’ continued willingness to launch, and even escalate, military conflicts in pursuit of natural resources and global hegemony is putting the nation at risk. Ultimately, our domestic and foreign policies not only put lives in harm’s way, but also undermine our claim of championing democracy and human rights worldwide.
Over the past nine months, the Trump administration’s foreign policy decisions have squeezed Americans financially. While the U.S. might not be in any immediate danger, as fuel and grocery prices rise, households nationwide are figuring out how to make ends meet.
So how did we get here? In January, the U.S. launched a military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. This was done without the authorization of Congressional lawmakers, who were barely consulted—if they were even notified at all.
At least 75 people were reportedly killed during the raid, according to the U.S., most of whom were Venezuelan and Cuban forces. At least a dozen U.S. servicemembers were also injured in the firefight.
The operation, according to President Donald Trump, was “effective” but “very violent,” and in the end, the U.S. seized control of Venezuela’s oil production indefinitely.
The Trump doctrine puts “America first,” regardless of consequences for the nation or its allies. After all, Trump has often touted that as president, he can do whatever he wants.
But does the pursuit of American interests come at the expense of another country’s sovereignty?
If Maduro wasn’t serving his people, and removing him from power was absolutely necessary, then it may have been a smart move for the U.S. to take action so decisively. Critics may argue that just because the U.S. has the power to do something, that doesn’t mean it should.
But I think that power means little if you’re unwilling to exercise it in the service of others. That said, I don’t think the U.S. should have taken control of another country’s resources as a spoil of war. The U.S. claims to support freedom and the dignity of all people, and it should be Venezuelans who see the socioeconomic benefits of the American government claiming such authority.
There should be a long-term commitment to the long-term well being of the country and its people, because otherwise the values the U.S. claims to champion are just empty promises.
And then there is the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, which led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which 25% of the world’s seaborne oil trade passes. The closure has thrown global markets into a tailspin, with no end in sight for people trying to put gas in their cars so they can get to work and put increasingly expensive food on their tables.
“America first” doesn’t mean following the whim of Trump or any president. It should mean prioritizing people’s well being and upholding the sanctity of life. That cannot happen if decisions are motivated by the deadly sin of greed.
As Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “true power comes from service—power that is moral—that is right and good.” If the U.S. is willing to risk lives, fracture economies, and intervene in other countries to advance its own interests, then it must also be accountable for any harm caused as a result.
If not, then those lauded American principles we learn about in our earliest days in school will become increasingly irrelevant. If the U.S. wants to truly lead rather than rule the world, then it must prove that those principles extend beyond whoever sits in the White House.