The bombardment of Venezuela and capture of President Nicolás Maduro echoes a long history of US interventions in Latin America since the Cold War.
Washington’s influence in the region has taken many forms since the 19th century, ranging from economic leverage and diplomatic pressure to direct military action.
While outright invasions have been relatively rare, the United States has repeatedly intervened during moments of political upheaval, most notably in Panama in 1989, when US forces captured the country’s strongman ruler, Manuel Noriega.
Elsewhere, US involvement has more often unfolded out of public view. Covert operations and political pressure contributed to the downfall of elected governments and the rise of military regimes in countries including Brazil, Chile and Argentina during the Cold War.
By contrast, open US military interventions have largely been concentrated in Central America and the Caribbean, regions long viewed in Washington as strategically vital to its security and influence.
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