“Trump’s Venezuela Invasion Could Trigger World War III” — Former Minister, Bolaji Akinyemi
Former Minister of External Affairs, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, has condemned the reported invasion of Venezuela by United States special forces, accusing former US President Donald Trump of vi0lating international law and pushing the world toward a third world war.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Akinyemi said the action showed blatant disregard for Venezuela’s sovereignty and accused Trump of double standards, recalling how he previously warned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy against triggering a global conflict during the Russia-Ukraine war.
“It is Trump who is now playing with the third world war, and that is frightening,” Akinyemi said, warning that rising global instability poses serious risks to countries like Nigeria. He added that his long-standing call for Nigeria to build a strong strategic power base had been misunderstood in the past.
Trump had announced the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, during an operation at the Miraflores Palace in Caracas, later sharing images of Maduro in custody. The development sparked global outrage and raised questions over the legality of the operation.
An emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council followed, with UN Secretary-General António Guterres calling for respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. Leaders in Mexico and Colombia also criticised the move, warning against US interventionism in the Americas.
Maduro’s removal has thrown Venezuela into uncertainty, with interim leader Delcy Rodríguez signalling readiness to cooperate with Washington. Trump has said the US seeks access to Venezuela’s oil resources, while reactions remain divided both internationally and among Venezuelans at home.
