EDITORIAL
Militarized South America
The offensive against Venezuela is an offensive against the entire subcontinent, and will lead imperialism to increase pressure on all regimes
As the crisis of imperialist domination deepens, Latin America is becoming the scene of a policy of military occupation and economic devastation. There are systematic preparations to wage war against the peoples and governments that rebel against the dictatorship of the big capital.
In Peru, Congress has authorized the entry of hundreds of US military personnel equipped with weapons of war. The agreement foresees rotating groups that will remain in the country throughout 2026 for training exercises and “support” for the National Police and the Armed Forces.
The US has designated Peru as a Principal Non-Member Ally of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). This status facilitates access to US defense surpluses and funding for military equipment, bringing the relationship to an unprecedented level of cooperation in the country.
In Paraguay, the signing of the “Status of Forces Agreement” (Sofa) formalized the presence of US troops on Paraguayan soil. The treaty regulates the actions of US Department of Defense military and civilian personnel in Paraguay, creating a legal framework for joint operations and rapid response to disasters. Under the command of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the official focus is on combating “transnational crime” and “terrorist groups” on the Triple Frontier.
Although he was surprised by the popular reaction in the last referendum, Ecuador’s president, Daniel Noboa, tried to change the constitution to allow the installation of foreign military bases (an attempt to resurrect the Manta Base).
José Antonio Kast’s victory in December 2025 with 58.1% of the vote pushed the Chilean political regime even further to the right. Even before taking office, Kast labeled Nicolás Maduro a “narcodictator” and gave an ultimatum for Venezuelan immigrants in an irregular situation to leave the country.
The militarization of the whole of South America coincides with the moment when the US government, led by President Donald Trump, decided to impose an economic siege on Venezuela – a measure that Kast strongly supports. Contrary to what the Brazilian government makes it seem, the offensive against Venezuela is an offensive against the entire subcontinent, since it will lead imperialism to increase pressure on all regimes, seeking to make them a base for its military operations.
