“The message was clear – this is the time for maximum solidarity with Venezuela.”
Tim Young reports back from a unique online meeting which heard directly from Venezuela’s progressive movements, organised by the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign and streamed by Arise – a Festival of Left Ideas, on Tuesday March 3rd.
Louise Regan (National Education Union Executive member) as Chair introduced the meeting by recalling the US forces’ brutal attack on 3rd January 2026 on Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, and other sites in Venezuela. The attack killed over 100 people including civilians, with the invading force kidnapping Venezuela’s president Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores in a flagrant breach of international law.
This outrage was followed by the hijacking of Venezuelan oil shipments and the creation of a naval blockade designed to take over control of Venezuela’s main export and deny access to countries such as Cuba, the next target on Trump’s list.
Two months on from this attack, as Nicolás Maduro remains in a US jail awaiting a preposterous trial and the threat of further strikes are used to pressure Venezuela and other governments in Latin America, this meeting was an opportunity to hear from voices in Venezuela about the response of the Venezuelan population to Trump’s war drive, and to offer solidarity with their struggle.
Carlos Ron (former Venezuelan Deputy Minister for North America and representative of Tricontinental) noted that that kidnapping President Maduro, the US encountered a harsh reality: there was no effective or popular right-wing opposition to hand over to. Instead, key sectors of the Bolivarian Revolution closed ranks to support Nicolas Maduro’s Vice-President (and now acting President,) Delcy Rodriguez.
But Venezuela remains under serious threat of a further, possibly worse, US military attack. Hence Venezuela has turned to diplomacy to contain the aggression, with the priorities of preserving peace, maintaining national stability and continuing to demand the return of President Maduro and Cilia Flores, illegally abducted because of their anti-imperialism and commitment to national sovereignty and international solidarity, particularly with Cuba and Palestine.
Fravia Marquez, adviser to Venezuela’s National Assembly from the Cumbé Afro Descendant Movement, noted that the US’s violation of Venezuela’s national autonomy on January 3rd had shocked the world and reshaped global politics.
Across Venezuela, people had protested en masse against the illegal kidnapping of Maduro, in contrast to mainstream media trying to show Venezuelans celebrating. Instead, Venezuelans have reaffirmed their commitment to peace and diplomacy.
Jésus Rodriguez-Espinoza (editor of the Orinoco Tribune), addressed the current corporate media smear campaign against the Venezuelan leadership, which he believed aims to divide Chavismo and encourage defeatism. Faced with this, Chavista forces are working hard to contain the existential threat of US aggression and prepare and reorganise for the possibility of a renewed US attack.
Yusbeles Ramirez (National Organiser of Young Workers in the Bolivarian Socialist Workers Confederation (CSBT)) noted daily workers’ mobilisations on the streets since the kidnapping – a violation of international law felt keenly because Maduro is originally a worker from the bus trade.
Contrary to the US’s expectations, the country had not erupted into violence. Instead, there has been unity among the working class, maintaining peace, stability and the constitutional order. Because of its oil reserves, Venezuela would always be a target for the US imperialism but it had not succeeded and would not against a politically conscious people. İVenceremos!
Nicolás Maduro Guerra (Member of the National Assembly memberand son of Nicolás Maduro) noted that Venezuela is facing the most aggressive face of imperialism. It is essential for Chavismo to remain in political power, to continue to transform Venezuela and the only way to fight for the return of Nicolás and Cilia.
To this end, the most important thing is that the people are aware and organised to resist whatever the US wants to do to Venezuela. The enemy’s capacity to cause harm – both the imperialist enemy and their puppets inside Venezuela – is not underestimated.
Three lines have therefore been decided. First, unity for peace, to maintain the peace of the country and internal order, so that the people feel at ease.
Secondly, unity so that the country moves forward, requiring consolidation on the economic front and the democratic front, deepening democracy, reducing the inequality gap in the social sphere and providing quality education and healthcare.
Thirdly, keeping alive every day the flame of the fight for the freedom of Nicolás and Cilia, both in Venezuela and in the world.
Wills Rangel (General Secretary of the CBST (the Venezuelan TUC equivalent)) expressed the gratitude of the country’s main union for the world-wide support shown for President Maduro and Cilia Flores and asked for full support for the call for their release.
He argued the working class stand firmly behind the continuation of the Bolivarian Revolution, which has withstood coup attempts, oil strikes and assassination attempts on the President. He expressed gratitude to working people throughout the world and affirmed that eventually their president, a worker from the Caracas Metro, would be back. İHasta la victoria siempre!
Francisco Dominguez (Secretary of VSC) emphasised the importance of hearing Venezuelan voices to understand the current situation’s complexities, given the US’s smear campaign to divide Chavismo and to undermine international solidarity with Venezuela.
The US’s attack on Iran confirms how dangerous the situation is in the whole world, and Francisco highlighted opposition to Trump in the US, among the people but also the establishment. Trump might therefore go for a rapid success, attacking Cuba and Venezuela.
He also emphasised how the charges against Maduro and Cilia Flores are fake and unsubstantiated. Nor is there any basis for trying them in a US court. VSC therefore demands the UK Prime Minister condemns the US’s violation of international law. The more heads of state to do so, the greater the pressure on Trump. VSC also demands the immediate safe return of the kidnapped pair.
The message from this inspiring event was clear – This is the time for maximum solidarity with Venezuela. İViva Venezuela!
- Join the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign at www.venezuelasolidarity.co.uk/join
- Watch the full event in full here.
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