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“WE WILL NEVER AGAIN BE A COLONY”: VENEZUELA DEFIES TRUMP AS
GLOBAL PROTESTS ERUPT OVER US INTERVENTION  
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Jordan Atwood
January 5, 2026
Nation of Change
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_ With Nicolás Maduro detained in Brooklyn and at least 40
reportedly killed, Venezuelan leaders project unity while protests
spread worldwide and US lawmakers warn of an illegal war. _

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Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez issued a forceful public
rejection of the Trump administration’s stated plans for Venezuela,
declaring that the country will not submit to foreign domination
following the US abduction of President Nicolás Maduro. Speaking in a
nationally televised address Saturday after assuming the role of
interim president, Rodríguez framed the confrontation as a fight over
sovereignty and self-determination.

“We will never again be a colony of any empire,” Rodríguez said.
“We are determined to be free.” She demanded that Washington
release Maduro, stating that “he is still Venezuela’s
president,” and condemned the US operation in stark terms. “What
is being done to Venezuela is barbaric,” she said.

Maduro is currently detained in Brooklyn and is facing new US charges.
His detention followed what the Trump administration described as a
military operation against Venezuela, an assault that reportedly
killed at least 40 people, including civilians. Since then, President
Donald Trump has publicly claimed authority to shape Venezuela’s
political future, saying he is “designating various people” to run
the country’s government and suggesting that American troops could
be deployed.

Trump has also threatened further escalation. He warned of a “second
wave” of attacks if Venezuelan officials do not comply with US
demands and issued a direct warning to the country’s leadership,
saying “what happened to Maduro can happen to them.” The
administration has not sought congressional authorization for attacks
on vessels in the Caribbean or for direct military action against
Venezuela.

Rodríguez’s remarks directly contradicted Trump’s claim that she
had privately pledged compliance with US efforts to control
Venezuela’s political system and oil infrastructure. She delivered
her address alongside senior Venezuelan officials, including Interior
Minister Diosdado Cabello, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino, and
leaders of the country’s legislative and judicial branches, an
appearance intended to project unity in the face of US pressure.

That unity has found vocal support among critics in Washington.
Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut condemned the Trump
administration’s actions, saying it was “starting an illegal war
with Venezuela that Americans didn’t ask for and has nothing to do
with our security.”

As Venezuelan officials rejected US demands at home, opposition to the
intervention quickly spilled beyond the country’s borders. Protests
erupted over the weekend at US diplomatic outposts in Brussels,
Madrid, Ankara, Mexico City, Los Angeles, and other major cities, as
demonstrators denounced the US assault and the administration’s
pledge to “run” Venezuela’s government for an unspecified period
of time.

In Mexico City, the US Mission to Mexico issued a security alert as
demonstrators gathered outside the US Embassy in the Polanco
neighborhood. “A protest denouncing US actions against Venezuela
continues to take place in front of the US Embassy in the Polanco
neighborhood of Mexico City,” the alert stated. It added that
“Protestors have thrown rocks and painted vandalism on exterior
walls.” According to the mission, “Social media posts about the
protest have included anti-American sentiment,” and “Embassy
personnel have been advised to avoid the area.”

Similar demonstrations unfolded across Europe and the Middle East.
Protesters gathered outside the US Embassy in Brussels, while
demonstrators in Ankara and Madrid carried signs condemning the attack
on Venezuela and chanted anti-war slogans. Images from the protests
showed placards rejecting US intervention and warning of the dangers
of imperial overreach.

The global demonstrations coincided with criticism of international
leaders who declined to directly condemn Washington’s actions.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she supports
“a peaceful and democratic transition” in Venezuela but did not
mention the abduction of Maduro or the US bombings that reportedly
killed dozens of people. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis
similarly declined to address legal questions, stating that “this is
not the time to comment on the legality of the recent actions,” even
as protests took place in Athens.

Those responses drew sharp criticism from international activists.
Progressive International co-general coordinator David Adler pointed
to Mitsotakis’ statement as evidence of Europe’s selective
application of international law. “If you still believe that the
European Union cares about international law, then look no further,”
Adler wrote. He added, “We are outraged, but this moment demands
more than outrage. It demands organized, coordinated resistance.”

Despite the backlash, the Trump administration has signaled that it
intends to press ahead. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Sunday
that the United States plans to maintain a military “quarantine”
around Venezuela, including a large naval force positioned in the
Caribbean.

“That’s a tremendous amount of leverage that will continue to be
in place until we see changes, not just to further the national
interest of the United States, which is number one, but also that lead
to a better future for the people of Venezuela,” Rubio said in a
television interview. He suggested that US troops could be deployed to
Venezuela and declined to clarify the legal authority for the
intervention.

The lack of congressional authorization has become a focal point of
criticism on Capitol Hill. Representative Greg Casar of Texas, chair
of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, warned that past efforts to
control other nations offer little justification for the current
approach. “In recent history, we’ve tried ‘running’ multiple
countries in Latin America and the Middle East. It’s been a disaster
for us, and for them, every single time,” Casar said.

Casar called for immediate legislative action to rein in the
administration. “Congress must pass a War Powers Resolution to get
our military back to defending the US, instead of ‘running’
Venezuela,” he said.

Progressive Democrats of America echoed that call, characterizing the
administration’s actions as “militarized authoritarianism.” In a
statement, the group warned of the broader consequences of escalation.
“We must act to stop it now, before it spreads to enflame the entire
region, if not the entire globe, in a dangerous, unnecessary
conflict,” the statement said. “We are outraged, but this moment
demands more than outrage. It demands organized, coordinated
resistance.”

As the Trump administration continues to threaten further military
action and assert control over Venezuela’s political future, core
questions remain unresolved. The White House has not explained how it
intends to legally justify the detention of a foreign head of state,
the reported civilian deaths, or the long-term scope of a military
“quarantine” designed to coerce a sovereign nation.

For Venezuelan leaders, the position has been explicit. Rodríguez’s
declaration that the country will “never again be a colony of any
empire” stands as a direct challenge to Washington’s claims.
Whether that stance, combined with mounting global protests and
pressure from US lawmakers, will alter the administration’s course
remains unclear. What is evident is that the intervention has
triggered widespread opposition and renewed scrutiny of US power
abroad, with political and legal consequences that continue to unfold.

 

_Jordan Atwood is a dynamic War and Politics Reporter known for his
incisive analysis and comprehensive coverage of international
conflicts and political landscapes. His work is driven by a commitment
to uncovering the truth and providing a clear, informed understanding
of complex geopolitical events. Jordan's reporting not only captures
the realities of war but also delves into the political strategies and
implications behind them, making his work essential for those seeking
a deeper understanding of world affairs._

_At NationofChange, our mission is to help people create a more
compassionate, responsible, and value-driven world, powered by
communities that focus on positive solutions to social and economic
problems._

 

* Venezuela
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* U.S. imperialism
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* Oil
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* Nicolas Maduro
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* Delcy Rodriguez
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* marco rubio
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* Latin America
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* Trump Administration
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* Anti-War Movement
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