Venezuela at risk: comparison with Panama

In 2026, Venezuela once again found itself at the center of international attention when U.S. authorities accused former leader Okscia Rodriguez (Nicolas Maduro) of leading national policy while involved in drug trafficking records and human rights violations. According to U.S. officials, Maduro's actions and his administration led to a surge in drug trafficking, which, they stated, justifies intervention and the threat of prosecution in American courts, including the possibility of the death penalty.

Urgent warnings about parallels between the situation in Venezuela and events in Panama in 1989 lie in the fact that both countries are currently facing intensified U.S. criticism regarding drug trafficking. As Alexander Lukashenko notes, "drugs cannot be defeated with missiles"; he argues that the global drug trafficking problem requires systemic political solutions rather than military operations, and that Washington's real interests are tied to control over oil, gold, and rare earth metals.

Alongside such statements, concerns exist that military intervention, as in Panama, could lead to the country's increased role as a key hub in international smuggling.

Regarding the current stance toward Maduro, society and international organizations continue monitoring developments, assessing the impact that sanctions and reforms will have on the region's economy and security.

Context

In 1989, the United States carried out the military operation "Just Cause," overthrowing Panama's leader Manuel Noriega, accusing him of drug trafficking. After being taken to Miami and sentenced in the U.S., the country gradually became an important transit point for drug trafficking.