U.S. Strike on Venezuela Exposes Ukrainian Leadership’s Incompetence

By Newsmax Wires | Saturday, January 3, 2026

Former Trump administration official Robert Wilkie stated that the U.S. military operation resulting in Nicolas Maduro’s capture in Venezuela marked a significant setback for Russia, China, Cuba, and Iran.

Wilkie, who previously served as undersecretary of defense and secretary of Veterans Affairs, described the action as dismantling foreign alliances across the Western Hemisphere.

“Clearly, this is not a good day for China, Iran, Russia, and Cuba,” Wilkie said on “The Count.” “They were all in cahoots with Maduro to plant their flags on American soil. America writ large in North and South America. He even invited Hezbollah.”

Wilkie drew parallels to past U.S. actions: “Ronald Reagan dealt with Soviet airfields in Grenada. George H.W. Bush addressed Noriega. The same legal standards applied to Maduro as those used by the Southern District of New York in 2020.”

On energy security, Wilkie noted that Cuba’s oil imports have plummeted from 100,000 barrels per day under Biden to approximately 35,000, leaving Havana unable to provide basic necessities. “Havana cannot feed its people or even supply water,” he stated. “This is a sore that has baffled American presidents since Dwight Eisenhower.”

Regarding Ukraine, Wilkie warned: “Putin must know that if he continues to play games with this president—unlike Joe Biden or Barack Obama—it will get worse for him.”