Former Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding has characterized the international community’s muted reaction to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent actions in Venezuela as profoundly disheartening. In a column published in the Jamaica Observer, Golding asserted that the American leader has effectively intimidated most nations, including major European powers who now fear provoking his anger.
The geopolitical developments have placed Caribbean Community (Caricom) nations in an exceptionally difficult position, Golding argued. Taking a principled stand against what he termed “Trump’s rampaging” would almost certainly invite severe retribution from the United States.
Golding’s comments reference last week’s U.S. military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture and extradition of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores to face charges in American courts. Maduro, who appeared in a New York court on Monday, pleaded not guilty to multiple indictments including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and weapons violations.
The former prime minister, who led Jamaica from 2007 to 2011, condemned the operation as a flagrant violation of international law and a repudiation of core principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter. These principles include the sovereign equality of all states, equal rights and fundamental freedoms for all people, maintenance of international peace and security, avoidance of force against territorial integrity, and the preference for peaceful dispute resolution.
Golding noted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s support for Maduro’s capture reflects his dependence on U.S. backing against Russian aggression, while apparently overlooking that Russia’s actions toward Ukraine parallel Trump’s approach toward Venezuela and potentially other nations.
The situation creates a crisis dilemma for particularly vulnerable Caricom states, Golding explained. Countries like Antigua & Barbuda and Dominica have recently faced U.S. visa restrictions that will significantly impact their economies by hindering citizens’ travel capabilities. While officially justified by concerns over citizenship investment programs, Golding contends the restrictions actually punish these nations for their leaders’ relationships with Maduro.
Golding warned that the Caribbean region now faces the threat of “recolonization,” drawing parallels to challenges faced eighty years ago. He expressed hope that the region could navigate these dangerous waters as it has historically.
The former leader concluded that the world must wait until 2029 to see Trump leave office, but the future will depend on whether he establishes a new ideological framework for international relations that enjoys significant support. Ultimately, Golding argued, the future global order now rests in the hands of American voters and whether they will empower successors to perpetuate Trump’s legacy in the 2028 presidential election.