A message to Putin and Xi - And Canada

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The American President has sent a message to Putin and Xi, namely, international law and the protection of state sovereignty can be ignored if it is deemed in the invader's interest to do so.

Trump always speaks out of both sides of his mouth, but in this instance it is crystal clear what he intended and intends to do.

Although the situations are not entirely the same, now Putin and Xi have an example with which to manufacture their own claims that violate established international norms. The world is another step closer to a new world war, or at the very least, large regional wars that become even more impossible to contain.

In the meantime, both China and Russia use the situation in Venezuela to position themselves on the high ground - a preposterous outcome that Trump could never imagine. As summarized in the Globe and Mail (January 3, 2026)

Chinese Foreign Ministry statement.

“China is deeply shocked ⁠and strongly condemns the use of force by the U.S. against a sovereign ‌country and ‍the use of force ‍against the president ‌of a country,” ⁠the foreign ministry said.

“China ​firmly opposes such hegemonic behaviour by the U.S., which seriously violates international law, violates Venezuela’s sovereignty, ​and threatens peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean. We urge the U.S. to ⁠abide by international law and ⁠the purposes and principles ‌of the UN Charter and stop violating the sovereignty and security of other countries.” 

And the Russian Foreign Ministry issued the following:

“This morning, the United States committed an act of armed aggression against Venezuela. This is deeply concerning and condemnable.”

“The pretexts used to justify such actions are unfounded. Ideological animosity has prevailed over business pragmatism and the willingness to build relationships ​based on trust and predictability.”

“In the current situation, it is important, first and foremost, to prevent further escalation and to focus on finding a way out of ‍the situation through dialogue.”

“Latin America must remain a zone of peace, as it declared itself to be in 2014. And Venezuela must be guaranteed the right to determine its own destiny without any destructive, let alone military, interference from outside.”

“We support the statement by the Venezuelan authorities and the leaders of Latin American countries calling for an immediate meeting of the UN Security Council.”

At lower levels, every radicalized organization that professes animosity toward imperialism - and especially the imperialism of the US will be emboldened to carry on and intensify their jihads. America has demonstrated the extent to which it will go under any circumstances to get what it wants.

Diplomatically, Canada issued a wishy washy statement designed to profess support for international law, but not anger the US by condemning the raid and seizure of Maduro.  Whatever is said publicly ought not to be how Canada should act in light of this lesson in American overreach.

Elbows up for Canada will not be enough. Heads up is the order of the day and an accelerated protection of our sovereignty in all realms of our relationship and on all our borders with the United States of America has become ever more imperative.

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