22 January 2026
Dear Patrons,
For the month of January this year, I planned to return to writing my book on Venezuelan foreign policy under the Bolivarian Revolution. Then, on 3 January, I received a message from a contact in Canberra that I had long dreaded: the United States military had commenced bombing Venezuela. Having travelled to Venezuela on numerous occasions for research and filming purposes since 2005, my mind immediately turned to the safety of the many friends I have made in the country over the years.
As I switched on my laptop to go online, I received another message, this time in voice form from a friend in Caracas. It said: “Rodrigo, what’s happening? There is bombing here in Caracas. Is it our military carrying out exercises, or is it the Yankees? What are you hearing over there?” Video footage of bombs raining down on Caracas, with numerous helicopters flying at low altitude over the capital, then came to my attention. As I posted the video on X (formerly Twitter), I wrote:
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