President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has warned that recent developments involving the United States and Venezuela highlight the urgent need for Africa to strengthen its strategic security across land, sea, air and space.
Speaking on Sunday during the Jazz with Jajja dialogue at State House Lodge, Nakasero, President Museveni referenced the unfolding situation in Venezuela, saying it offers important lessons for Africa on geopolitics and security preparedness.
“In Venezuela, I don’t yet know exactly what they are fighting for. I am still watching and studying it,” President Museveni said. “The Americans are saying that some Latin Americans are sending drugs to the USA, but whatever the case, we shall learn more.”
The President cautioned that while global powers possess superior capabilities in air and naval warfare, outcomes can be different in ground engagements if countries are prepared and organised.
“The Americans are powerful in the air and navy, but if they come within close range on land, they can be defeated,” he said, stressing the importance of comprehensive and layered defence systems.
During the discussion, former State Minister Julie F. Nantaba questioned the underlying interests behind U.S. actions in Venezuela, asking whether the dispute was driven by oil, gold, or alleged drug cartel activity.
President Museveni noted that the full details of what is happening in Venezuela remain unclear and require careful observation rather than rushed conclusions. “Americans’ actions in Venezuela are still not very clear. We have yet to learn what is really happening,” he said.
Internationally, analysts have reported heightened tensions between Washington and Caracas, with speculation that the United States is seeking to exert pressure on Venezuela’s leadership and its inner circle through diplomatic, economic and military signals. However, the exact nature and outcomes of these actions remain contested and subject to ongoing developments.
President Museveni concluded by urging African countries to draw lessons from global conflicts and power struggles, emphasising that only strong, united and strategically prepared states can safeguard their sovereignty in an increasingly unpredictable world.
