The Americans are building up a powerful fleet off the coast of Venezuela, but it is difficult to know what they really want, probably to force the reluctant country in some direction. But it is hardly the case that Venezuelans pose a military threat to the United States; they are not even neighbours. Why is this military display taking place?
President Maduro does not seem particularly impressed by the United States and has taken a contrary stance, as well as partially abandoning the Western economic system. However, the country is rich in natural resources, especially oil.
Cuba is another country that is not tolerated by the United States, and the nation has been subjected to long sanctions and boycotts, without actually being able to overthrow the regime and change its political stance. Previously, they were allies with the Soviet Union and have a revolutionary past.
The concept of spheres of interest has recently returned to public debate. It refers to strategic areas that extend beyond one’s own country. Recently, Canada has been courted to become another state, as has Greenland. Mexico is already pacified, the huge country that does not even have fighter jets, only a few helicopters. And Central America consists mostly of timid so-called banana republics, where the United States also rules the roost. Perhaps only Brazil can defend itself to any significant extent, but even there the US is trying to have a say. The American continent is ruled by the US, that is how it is, and that is how it will probably remain.
Empires have spheres of interest, and they are constantly preoccupied with security issues and establishing a military ring around their homeland, preferably as extensive as possible. This is a historical fact, and the sphere is not only about defence but also about economics and control of trade routes and sea lanes.
However, the United States is not an empire; it wants to be a softer democratic power and spread the liberal Western spirit to all corners of the world. This often involves bringing about regime change, fighting dictators, destroying weapons of mass destruction and creating justice.
However, we see a certain amount of devastation in the wake of American military adventures, with people and countries torn apart and unable to recover, from Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, etc. Perhaps all the talk of spreading democracy is just a cover for their real intentions?
Furthermore, the American sphere of influence extends beyond its own continent, it clearly extends all the way to Ukraine, Central Asia, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Even if this meddling is often masked as a project of justice.
Admitting to one’s own sphere of influence would imply that other superpowers may also have spheres of influence, wouldn’t it? The Russians and Chinese are not allowed to boss their neighbours around, how would that look?
Perhaps the gunboat diplomacy in Venezuela is about saving face in the face of a soon-to-be lost war in Ukraine? If the Russians get Kiev, will the US get Caracas?
