In this wide-ranging interview, former U.S. ambassador Chas Freeman offers a blunt assessment of Washington’s latest escalation against Venezuela and its global consequences.Freeman examines President Trump’s treatment of President Nicolás Maduro, arguing that the episode amounts to a political hostage crisis rather than legitimate diplomacy. He explains how the United States is openly violating international law through unilateral sanctions—and why much of the world now views U.S. power as coercive rather than rules-based.We also discuss:How other countries can counter U.S. sanctions and legal overreachThe reaction of the MAGA camp to the Venezuela escalationWhether Washington has a coherent strategy ahead—or is improvisingThe geopolitical impact of oil sanctions on China, Cuba, Russia, and the Global SouthWhy energy warfare is becoming a central tool of U.S. foreign policyThis conversation is essential viewing for anyone trying to understand U.S. imperial strategy, the future of sanctions, and the shifting global balance of power.📌 Guest: Chas W. Freeman Jr., former U.S. Ambassador and Assistant Secretary of Defense📌 Topics: Venezuela, Trump, Maduro, sanctions, oil geopolitics, China, Russia, international law, MAGA

Why does the U.S. keep escalating against Venezuela—across administrations and political parties?Journalist Ben Norton explains how oil interests, Miami-based political hawks, and China’s rise in Latin America drive Washington’s policy.🔴🔴🔴Support Independent media to remain bold: https://patreon.com/IndiaGlobalLeftLink for donation: https://paypal.me/sankymudiar🔴🔴🔴In this in-depth interview, journalist and geopolitical analyst Ben Norton breaks down the latest U.S. escalation against Venezuela and places it within the long history of Washington’s interventions in Latin America.We begin by examining Donald Trump’s renewed pressure on Venezuela and why the United States periodically intensifies confrontation with left-leaning governments across the region. Ben explains how these escalations are tied to imperial strategy, domestic U.S. politics, and economic interests, rather than genuine security concerns.A key focus of the discussion is the powerful alliance between oil interests and political hawks based in Florida and Miami, and how this nexus has shaped U.S. policy toward Venezuela, Cuba, and the wider region for decades.We also explore whether there has been a real shift in rhetoric—from framing Venezuela as a “national security threat” under Obama to accusations of drug trafficking under Trump—or whether this represents a continuity of regime-change strategy using different justifications.Finally, Ben Norton analyses how Latin American political and economic elites view the region’s deepening ties with China, and why Beijing’s growing role has triggered alarm in Washington. What does China’s presence mean for U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere, and how does it factor into escalating pressure on Venezuela?This conversation is essential viewing for anyone seeking to understand U.S. imperialism in Latin America, Venezuela sanctions, oil politics, China’s rise, and the real drivers of Washington’s foreign policy.Topics covered:– U.S. escalation against Venezuela– Trump vs Obama policy continuity– Oil interests and Miami political lobbies– Regime-change narratives and propaganda– Latin America–China relations– U.S. imperial strategy in the Global South🔴🔴🔴Follow us on Substack: https://substack.com/@indiagloballeftTwitter: https://twitter.com/Indiagloballeft Instagram https://www.instagram.com/indiagloballeft/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559411353392Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/69Y9iCWUv8ha3ATsPWtWk0?si=ee1f0de3de094f17Telegram: https://t.me/+WNlqoiv1Rhg5NjEx🔴🔴🔴📌 Subscribe to India & Global Left for in-depth conversations on global politics, imperialism, and the Global South.

In this in-depth conversation, Trita Parsi joins India & Global Left to analyse the upcoming Netanyahu–Trump meeting and the renewed push by Israel for a war against Iran.We discuss how Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is attempting to shape U.S. policy under a potential Trump presidency, the strategic calculations behind escalating tensions with Iran, and whether Washington is being dragged toward another catastrophic Middle East war.Parsi breaks down the regional implications of a U.S.–Israel confrontation with Iran, including the impact on Gaza, Hezbollah, the Red Sea, Gulf states, and global energy markets. We also examine what war would mean for Iranian domestic politics, Israeli security, and the long-term balance of power in West Asia.This conversation challenges mainstream media narratives and explains who benefits from escalation, who pays the price, and why diplomacy is being sidelined at such a dangerous moment.