The United States recently seized a Venezuelan oil tanker headed for Cuba. And, according to an article written by Ben Shapiro for the Daily Wire, this is all part of a larger plan to force regime change and keep outside influences out of the Western Hemisphere.

Join the community of Monthly Ministry Partners and help IFA provide prayer resources to other intercessors.

View Comments (4)

From the Daily Wire:

President Trump confirmed that the United States had pursued the seizure. According to Attorney General Pam Bondi, it was headed to Cuba.

There’s been talk about establishing a no-fly zone around Venezuela. All of this is external pressure, presumably designed to force the possibility of a regime change in Venezuela without any serious threat to American troops going in on the ground.

…

If it turns out that the United States is now prepared to interdict all oil that may or may not be headed for Iran or from Iran, then this could absolutely cripple the Venezuelan economy even more than it has suffered before.

Shapiro notes that oil has accounted for 80-90% of Venezuela’s total export earnings in recent years. That means that, if the U.S. is planning to intervene in Venezuela’s oil exports, it could effectively cripple the nation’s economy, putting tremendous pressure on its people to elect a new leader more friendly toward President Trump.

This move comes amid significant tension with Venezuela. President Trump has been putting significant pressure on the nation, blaming it for many of the drugs flowing into the U.S. And, more recently, Shapiro notes the President has been pressuring Columbian President Gustavo Petro as well. Shapiro describes Petro as a “far-left socialist” who “is more oriented toward China and Iran.”

Petro reportedly described the U.S. seizure of the Venezuelan tanker as “barbarian.” When asked about this characterization, President Trump noted that “Columbia is producing a lot of drugs” and that Petro “better wise up or he’ll be next.” With Columbia’s presidential elections scheduled for May next year, President Trump could use American pressure to force Petro out of office.

Shapiro ties all this together, writing that it “seems to be part of a broader national security strategy” designed to keep “the foreign influence of China, Iran, or Russia” out of the Western Hemisphere. He likens it to the Monroe Doctrine, quipping that “it’s about time” that someone kicks foreign influences out of America’s backyard. And, as intercessors for America, we agree.

At IFA, we’ve reported in countless articles, resources, and webcasts about the influences they above nations have in our nation and over our neighbors. We’ve watched for years as China especially has moved into Central and South America, building close bonds with nations in our backyard. Now, however, we have a strong President in office who’s putting his foot down. President Trump promised a golden age when he was inaugurated, and this is just another way he’s bringing that golden age about. More importantly, it’s an answer to years of prayer.

Let’s thank God for the President’s strong stance against America’s adversaries, and let’s pray for him and his administration as they continue to push back on Chinese, Russian, and Iranian influence!

What do you think of President Trump’s strategy with Venezuela? Share your prayers and scriptures below.

(Excerpt from the Daily Wire. Photo Credit: Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)