Latin America’s Call for Unity Masks Growing Divisions Amid U.S. Intervention
As Latin American leaders gather to denounce political polarization, their criticism of U.S. policy in Venezuela reveals a deeper failure to confront authoritarian threats undermining regional sovereignty.
At a recent development forum in Panama City, Latin American leaders spoke passionately about the need for regional unity in the face of rising political polarization. Yet behind these calls lies a troubling reality: many of these governments are unwilling or unable to address the real source of instability threatening their nations—the authoritarian regime in Venezuela and its external enablers.
Is Political Polarization a Convenient Distraction?
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva lamented the paralysis within CELAC, blaming unnamed “illegal military interventions” for blocking effective cooperation. But what Lula fails to acknowledge is that this paralysis stems largely from the refusal of some regional powers to hold Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro accountable for his brutal repression and economic collapse.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro was more candid about this issue, directly criticizing military action near Caracas and advocating for Maduro’s trial—either domestically or through a regional tribunal. Yet even this proposal skirts the fundamental truth: Maduro’s regime represents an existential threat to democratic governance and stability across Latin America.
The real question is: how long will Washington tolerate such obfuscation while its efforts to restore order and protect democracy are painted as meddling? For hardworking Americans concerned about national security and immigration pressures tied directly to Venezuelan collapse, these developments demand clear-eyed scrutiny rather than vague condemnations.
America First Means Supporting Sovereignty and Order in Our Hemisphere
This moment calls for principled leadership that puts national sovereignty and individual liberty first—not deferred blame games masking autocratic failures. While leftist leaders criticize U.S. actions without naming them, they ignore how unchecked authoritarianism threatens trade routes, fuels migration crises at our southern border, and undermines economic prosperity throughout the hemisphere.
It was under America First policies that previous administrations took concrete steps against corrupt regimes harming our interests abroad. Instead of enabling polarization by tolerating rogue actors like Maduro, we should champion true regional cooperation based on respect for freedom and rule of law.
If Latin America’s leaders wish to end polarization, they must first confront the real sources of division: failed dictatorships enabled by foreign interference and complacency at home. Only then can lasting unity blossom—one aligned with both regional stability and American values.