The recent U.S. military action against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife is “definitely illegal,” former Philippine National Security Adviser Dr. Clarita Carlos said in an interview on DZRH’s Dos Por Dos program on Monday.
Carlos criticized the U.S. for violating Venezuela’s sovereignty, calling the arrest operation “illegal from every perspective.” She explained that the United States cannot enforce its domestic court orders on foreign territory, despite claims that Maduro is a drug kingpin responsible for narcotics entering the U.S.
“Kung ‘yong sinasabi nila na narco leader ito at ito yung nagpapadala ng mga bawal na gamot sa Amerika, mas masahol yung Colombia kung titingnan natin ang mga datos. So alam natin na hindi yun ang rason kung bakit ganito ang ginawa sa Venezuela,” Carlos said.
The former security adviser also linked the operation to historical and geopolitical considerations. She cited the Monroe Doctrine, established over 200 years ago, which warned European powers against interfering in the Western Hemisphere, including Latin America.
Carlos explained that today, the concept of spheres of influence has resurfaced, referring to America's President Donald Trump’s National Security Strategy, which she said divided global influence among Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“Paghahatian nila ni Xi Jinping siya at ni Vladimir Putin ang mundo. Inichapwera niya [Pres. Donald Trump] ang Europe. So ibig sabihin, kanya-kanya tayo ng spheres of influence at maaaring kong gawin, ang gusto kong gawin dito sa Western Hemisphere, bahala na kayo sa inyong sphere of influence.”
Carlos warned that this approach undermines international institutions. She noted that the United Nations Security Council is largely ineffective due to the veto powers of its permanent members and recalled the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq as a precedent where UN approval was ignored.
Regarding the possibility of legal remedies, Carlos stated that the U.S. Congress has the sole authority to declare war and could check presidential actions domestically, but internationally, mechanisms are limited.
“Meron akong nabasang komentary na kapag nakita mo daw yung listahan ng basis for indictment, ay matatawa ka kasi katawa-tawa talaga yung mga rason kung bakit nila iniindict ito si Maduro. So napakaraming sanga-sanga talaga ito,” she said.
Carlos also highlighted the recent U.S. pardon of a former Honduran president accused of similar crimes, which she said illustrates inconsistent application of the law.
The Philippines and other nations now face the broader implications of the U.S. strategy, as the move signals a potential shift toward aggressive enforcement of influence in the Western Hemisphere, according to Carlos.
