Statement
Condemning U.S. Imperialist Aggression Against Venezuela /
Do Not Allow the Takaichi Government to Be Complicit in Aggression
January 5, 2026 – MDS (Movement for Democratic Socialism)
On January 3, acting on the orders of U.S. President Donald Trump, the U.S. military launched an invasion of Venezuela, carrying out large-scale military attacks across the country, including in the capital Caracas. Reports indicate that the death toll on the Venezuelan side has reached 80. U.S. special forces detained and abducted President Nicolás Maduro and the First Lady, forcibly transferring them to New York, where the Trump administration claims it will put them on trial on charges of “drug trafficking.”
We strongly condemn the Trump administration’s imperialist military aggression against Venezuela, which violates international law, the United Nations Charter, and even U.S. domestic law. We demand the immediate cessation of U.S. military attacks and threats, and the complete withdrawal of U.S. forces.
Under the pretext of intercepting “drug-smuggling vessels,” the U.S. military has unilaterally attacked Venezuelan civilian ships in recent months, killing more than 117 people. U.S. Navy aircraft carriers have been deployed in nearby waters. However, this war of aggression launched by Trump has nothing to do with drug trafficking. No credible evidence has been presented to substantiate claims that senior Venezuelan officials are “narco-terrorists.”
Why, then, has this illegal war been launched? Trump has openly declared that he wants “the world’s largest U.S. oil companies to enter Venezuela” and that “we will run Venezuela until a wise transition of government is completed.” The real aim is to establish a puppet regime in order for U.S. global capital to seize Venezuela’s oil resources, among the largest reserves in the world.
The future of Venezuelan society and politics can be decided only by the Venezuelan people themselves. In Venezuela, both citizens and the government are raising their voices in protest, refusing to tolerate the Trump administration’s lawless invasion.
In the United States, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) has called for people to rise up in anti-war actions opposing “Trump’s illegal war against Venezuela.” Zohran Mamdani, a socialist and DSA member who assumed office as Mayor of New York City on January 1, directly phoned Trump to protest the attack on Venezuela and the scheme of “regime change.” Kathy Hochul, Governor of New York State, who supports Mamdani, has also condemned Trump’s war. The U.S. anti-war organization CODEPINK is calling for nationwide protest actions against the invasion of Venezuela.
Across the world—in the United Kingdom, France, Latin America, Japan, and beyond—demonstrations and actions protesting the invasion of Venezuela are spreading.
Despite facing an invasion war that violates international law and has killed numerous civilians, the Japanese Takaichi government has yet to clarify whether it supports or opposes this aggression (as of January 5). Failure to oppose is tacit approval—and complicity. We must demand that the Takaichi government clearly oppose Trump’s aggression against Venezuela.
Let us rise up in urgent protest actions nationwide to oppose the Trump administration’s war of aggression against Venezuela, to demand the release and return of the President and First Lady, and to prevent the Takaichi government from complicit involvement in this invasion. Let us concentrate our protests on U.S. embassies and consulates, as well as on the Japanese government.