Unions: Defend the Country!

Like a 19th century robber baron at the head of a colonial empire, Donald Trump declared that Venezuelan oil belongs to the U.S. and used military force to go get it. U.S. imperialism bombed Caracas and other cities and killed at least 80 people, including Cuban soldiers and Venezuelan civilians, on its way to kidnapping the president, Nicolás Maduro, along with Cilia Flores. Trump proceeded to say he likes the idea of a similar action against Petro in Colombia and that he looks forward to the Cuban government falling. Threatening comments against Mexico have increased to the point that last night Trump announced “hitting land” to go against the cartels. The attack on Venezuela is really the beginning of a chapter of renewed aggression in which Mexico will be on the front line. The imperialists are emboldened and want to make it brutally clear that Latin America is their backyard. If they aren’t stopped now, the future of the continent's working masses will be dire. There’s no time to lose! We must protest, mobilize and strike in defense of Venezuela, Mexico and all of Latin America!

Sheinbaum’s comments all week about there not being a risk to Mexico are suicidal illusions. Since Trump has returned to office, he has done nothing but bully and attack the world, including the U.S.’s main semi-colony, Mexico. Our country has already suffered the consequences of USMCA, of the tariffs and of the trade war with China. Mexico is Cuba’s main oil supplier, a situation which is accentuated by Venezuelan exports being diverted. That is something the U.S. will want to stop. Sheinbaum has fewer and fewer options in her attempt to balance between the powerful Mexican proletariat and U.S. imperialism, which wants to proceed with its objective of turning the country into an open colony.

So, what can we do in Mexico to protect ourselves and all the other countries that are threatened? Mexico is the leading exporter to the United States, including crucially needed material for manufacturing, like electronic components, auto parts and steel. Furthermore, there are huge U.S. investments in Mexico that depend on Mexican labor and social stability to continue extracting profits and resources. A truly anti-imperialist government would counter American threats with measures that go against U.S. interests in Mexico, such as halting supply chains in key industries or confiscating imperialist assets if threats and provocations continue. Such a government would also act against the imperialist financial stranglehold on the country. Cancel the debt! Nationalize the banks! It would also seek to undermine dependence on the U.S. For a Latin American economic/military agreement with China! Other basic defensive measures would include kicking the DEA, the CIA and other imperialist agencies out of Mexico, as well as banning U.S. military aircraft and drones from flying over Mexican territory.

Sheinbaum remains a very popular president, not least because she constantly speaks about national sovereignty, which is a subject dear to people’s hearts. That Sheinbaum condemned the attack on Venezuela and the kidnapping of Maduro is popular among the population, where anti-Yankee sentiment is deep-rooted. Nonetheless, her perspective is based on the UN Charter and international law. It should be clear after more than two years of genocide in Gaza that the U.N. and international law, despite occasional empty words of support, do not stop massacres or defend the oppressed. In case there was any doubt that Trump does whatever he wants, yesterday he declared: “I don’t need international law.” If there is any hope for getting the U.S. to back off, it is by applying real pressure at points where they will feel the pain.

The unions must demand that the government organize the defense of Mexico through genuine anti-imperialist actions. We must propose joint resistance with Venezuela and Cuba against the U.S.! We must demand arms and military training for the people under the control of the unions and peasant organizations! The resources for all this and to provide relief to the population in the face of the imminent crisis must come from the wealth that is now being plundered from the country by the imperialists. Expropriate the energy sector without compensation! Revoke mining concessions to imperialist companies!

This is not what Sheinbaum has sought to do, because she is not willing to actually break with U.S. imperialism. While she often repeats “cooperation, not subordination,” the U.S. is no longer interested in “cooperation” and demands “subordination.” The Mexican government’s conceding to Trump’s demands will only lead to further subjugation of the country. It is not that Sheinbaum doesn’t understand the situation; it’s that she’s in a bind. In order to put fear in the hearts of the imperialist, she would need to mobilize the masses of Mexico. But workers rising up against imperialism and their conditions of subjugation and exploitation might logically turn next to the weaker national bourgeoisie, which also exploits and oppresses them.

It is important that so many unions, leftists and social organizations are protesting the attack on Venezuela. This energy should not be limited to declarations or symbolic acts, which are not enough to defend Venezuela or Mexico. We must fight for a true mobilization of the power of labor as the only real way to stop the imperialists. It is essential that these efforts also draw in other key sectors—like auto, airports, oil and mining—where working conditions have been severely degraded under the pressure of the imperialists.

It is also essential to extend a hand to workers and the oppressed in the U.S., where there is currently discontent due to the worsening economy and anger at deadly police and ICE brutality. Those masses face the same enemy as us in the multinational corporations that operate on both sides of the border and, in particular, the imperialist government of the U.S. It is necessary to unite the oppressed of the entire continent—from Canada to Chile and Argentina—against the main enemy. For an anti-imperialist united front!