Trading Ukraine for Venezuela Would Be a Good Deal

President Trump is a transactional leader. So, too, is Vladimir Putin. Let’s do the mother-of-all geopolitical deals and get on with more pressing matters of state already. Neither Ukraine nor Venezuela are worth risking a wider war with Russia. And, despite what “experts” in the United States claim, Russia is a declining power with delusions of grandeur. American policy toward Russia has left Putin with little hope. Thus, as he is increasingly boxed in by the West and a rising China to his east, the likelihood of Putin lashing out militarily against the West is higher now than it has ever been.

America Should Not Directly Intervene in Venezuela

“The essential element in this scenario would be American leadership as opposed to direct American military intervention. While this method may take longer and, therefore, prolong human suffering in Venezuela, this is the only viable option. After all, freedom isn’t free, and the United States has had ample evidence over the last several decades that it cannot fight for other peoples’ independence.”

The Cost of Doing Nothing About Venezuela

“The solution is to organize a massive regional response to the Venezuelan crisis. Countries like Colombia, Peru, and Brazil are all interested in mitigating Venezuela’s collapse. The Trump Administration must head a regional coalition that would aim to ameliorate the suffering of the Venezuelan people, while putting pressure on the regime in Caracas. Venezuela, more than Syria, is where a limited, American-led humanitarian intervention of regional powers should occur. The longer that the Trump Administration ignores the Venezuelan crisis, the more time America’s enemies have to harden their positions in our part of the world—which could directly threaten the United States.”

Don’t Ignore Venezuela

Venezuela is imploding. Iran, Russia, and China have increased their holdings in the region. America has ignored Latin America for years. Meanwhile, the threat posed by Illegal Immigration to the U.S. increases as instability does. The U.S. cannot ignore Venezuela.

For the Royal Navy, the Priority Must Be Europe

Recent reports indicate that the British intend to deploy their soon-to-be deployed aircraft carrier, the HMS Queen Elizabeth to far away Asia and the Falkland Islands. This is a mistake. In this piece, I argue that Britain is the strongest military force in Europe. It must focus its limited but powerful military on stabilizing Europe.