The 2026 Venezuela Attack: A New Chapter in the Long History of US Intervention

The smoke hasn't cleared in Caracas, yet the fingerprints look centuries old. On January 3, 2026, an attack in Venezuela sent ripples across the hemisphere, forcing a reckoning with the long-standing tradition of United States involvement in Latin American affairs.

Contextualizing the 2026 Venezuela Attack and US Policy

According to NPR, this latest incident isn't a random outlier. Ron Elving, NPR senior editor and correspondent, joined Daniel Estrin to discuss how this event fits into a century-old pattern of U.S. intervention. While official Washington often cites stability and democracy as motives, regional observers see a familiar playbook being executed.

A Century of Intervention in Latin America

The history is dense and often bloody. From the Cold War-era coups to modern economic sanctions, the United States has frequently treated the region as its "backyard." Experts note that the 2026 Venezuela attack serves as a stark reminder that despite shifts in global politics, the underlying tension between sovereignty and superpower influence remains unresolved.