The United States’ attack on Venezuela undermines international law

SAIH condemns the illegal US attack on Venezuela and demands urgent action from the international community. 

When global powers disregard international law, they undermine not only Venezuela’s sovereignty but also the international system that is meant to protect civilians and prevent war. 

While SAIH condemns the dictatorship in Venezuela and Maduro’s brutal use of power – a power that has criminalized political dissent and driven millions into exile – we certainly must condemn the U.S. military attack on January 3rd. 

This is not an isolated attack. It is part of a historical trajectory rooted in the Monroe Doctrine of 1823, now reborn as the “Donroe Doctrine": a geopolitical logic where military force and economic interests override democratic values and international law.

As President Trump stated regarding the U.S.’s recent approach: “American dominance in the Western Hemisphere will never be questioned again”. This narrative reflects a worldview in which dominating powers assert control over regions for political and economic gain. When international law is eroded, the door opens to a system where might make right, and imperialism becomes normalized.

When power and imperialist interests define the framework of society, academic freedom and human rights are pushed aside. Universities lose their role as arenas for critical thinking and democratic participation, and education is reduced to a tool for political loyalty. In several countries, we have seen how authoritarian regimes dismantle universities and criminalize student movements. This has happened in numerous countries like Nicaragua, Venezuela – and now it is happening in the United States. When global powers apply such logics locally and globally, the space for knowledge and resistance becomes even narrower.

SAIH’s values on solidarity, academic freedom, and non-discrimination commit us to stand against all forms of imperialism and abuse of power. We believe in a world where knowledge, critical thinking, and democratic rights are accessible to all, not just to those who hold power. Where people can access relevant education at every level on their own terms. 

If we allow power to decide what is right, we risk losing the very foundations of a world where law prevails over force. The defence of international law must be absolute, not relative. It cannot be applied selectively or adjusted to political convenience. Therefore, all states that believe in, and depend, on international law must firmly condemn the illegal military intervention of Venezuela.

SAIH calls for

• States and the international community to comply with international law.
• States and the international community to condemn all forms of imperialism and illegal military intervention.
• Students and academics around the world to stand in solidarity with the Venezuelan population and higher education community