Venezuela, Trump, and the Logic of Intervention

Happy New Year, friends.

As soon as we were done lighting our fireworks in Aruba – part of our annual tradition – POTUS lit his own, and they were of a very different kind. President Maduro was extracted from power in Venezuela in what can only be described as a bold and extraordinary U.S.-led operation.

It didn’t take long for the next phase to begin. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as acting president, and former President Trump, speaking from Mar-a-Lago, declared that the United States will run Venezuela “for the time being.”

Let me say this clearly: I support what Trump is doing here.

These are not ordinary times. And they don’t call for ordinary actions. What we’re witnessing isn’t a standard political transition – it’s a geopolitical reset, unfolding just 24 kilometers from our shore.

Why This Hits Close to Home

Aruba may be small, but we are not removed. We are neighbors – geographically, historically, and emotionally. With more than 10,000 Venezuelan nationals, both pro and against the Maduro regime,  living here, we are tied to that country through family, business, and shared experience.

So yes, what happens in Venezuela affects us. And when the U.S. – our largest trading partner – steps into the center of that storm, it affects us doubly so.

If this intervention leads to greater regional stability, to new investment, and to a functioning Venezuelan economy, that’s good news for Aruba. We’ve long benefited from growth and order on both sides of the water. If this is the first step toward that, we should welcome it.

A Practical Remedy

Now, I understand this may not sit well with everyone. Foreign control of a sovereign nation rarely does. It raises legal questions, moral objections, and uneasy memories. And yes, this particular scenario is unprecedented, confusing even.

But let’s keep perspective.

Venezuela didn’t suddenly fall into crisis. This country has been battered by decades of dysfunction. Even before Chávez and Maduro, so-called democratic governments were plagued by corruption, mismanagement, and instability.

So the idea that democracy will suddenly reappear overnight? Unrealistic.

What Venezuela needs right now is stability. Order. Trust. Infrastructure. Leadership that functions. If the United States, through President Trump and his team, can provide that in a transitional format, then I believe it’s a step in the right direction.

Sometimes a situation is so broken that you need an outside force to stabilize the table before you can even begin to rebuild it. That’s what I see happening now.

The Legal and Political Questions

Of course, there will be those who raise legal and political objections. There always are. Some will say it’s not America’s role. Others will say it’s unconstitutional, internationally murky, or morally questionable.

But again – these are extraordinary circumstances.

This is not just politics. This is geopolitics. High stakes. Multiple interests. Multiple actors. And within this complex web, those in power – Trump included – have the legal and strategic space to act. Whether we like it or not, this is how global power operates.

Some will agree. Some will be outraged. That’s the nature of power. That’s the reality of action. And now, all of us – supporters, critics, and observers alike – must deal with what’s unfolding in real time.

Impact Hits Home

The fallout is already visible here.

My son Gavin was supposed to return to Paris for school this week. His flight was cancelled due to the closure of Venezuelan airspace. Like him, there are likely hundreds of students, professionals, and tourists whose plans were disrupted overnight. Good news is the staff at KLM managed to rebook him for Monday so he will be back in Paris by Tuesday afternoon and off to his finals. 

One cruise ship, I’m told, has already been turned away. Flights rerouted. Tourism delayed. Now, you know my views on cruise tourism- I’ve written before that we’d be better off without it. 

So we’re not watching this crisis from a distance. We’re living in its ripple effect.

The Road Ahead

Now that Rodríguez is in power, the question becomes: what happens to the remaining Maduro loyalists? Will they resign quietly or try to resist? And how long will this transitional period last?

There’s no easy answer.

But for once, there’s a direction. For once, there’s movement. And maybe, just maybe, there’s a window of opportunity to rebuild something better than what’s been lost.

So yes, I support this intervention. Although my support is clearly not needed.

I support it because it’s bold. Because it’s practical. Because it addresses reality, not theory. And because Venezuela- and this region – needs structure more than it needs slogans right now.

Let’s not get caught up in old narratives. Let’s look at the facts. The reset has begun.