Egyptian State Press Attacks U.S., President Trump Following Arrest Of Venezuelan President Nicolás…

Peloni:  It sounds as if Sisi is concerned he might be the next to be Maduroed

By: Steven Stalinsky, Ph.D., Rachel Legow, and R. Sosnow | MEMRI | January 12, 2025

President Donald Trump welcomes Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Monday, April 3, 2017, at the West Wing entrance of the White House in Washington, D.C. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)

The abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in an American military operation on January 3, 2026 sparked harsh criticism in Egypt and expressions of concern over its implications for the world order. While the Egyptian Foreign Ministry sufficed with a laconic statement saying it remains in constant contact with Egypt’s embassy in Caracas to monitor the situation of Egyptians in Venezuela,[1] the Egyptian press and pro-regime state published numerous articles and cartoons condemning the operation and describing it as a “crime,” a “piratical act,” and a “dark chapter” in American history.

The writers stressed that the operation was carried out without international approval and while bypassing and showing contempt for international institutions such as the UN, the Security Council and the International Court of Justice, which are entrusted with upholding international law and order. They expressed concern over the implications of the move for the world order and the possible dismantling of international institutions such as the UN.

The writers added that Maduro’s arrest was meant to convey a message to the countries of the world, that they must submit to America’s dominance or else face the same fate as Venezuela. They warned that this incident will not be the last of its kind, and that it constitutes a “dangerous precedent” that could encourage Russia to do the same in Ukraine and China to do the same in Taiwan. Some even expressed concern that, just as America carried out this this operation to seize Venezuela’s oil, similar actions could be undertaken to seize the Arab oil. The writers called to reexamine the relations with the U.S. in light of Trump’s behavior.

This report presents the criticism leveled at the U.S. and President Trump in the Egyptian state and pro-regime press.

The Action Has Severe Implications For The Entire World

In an article published in the state daily Al-Ahram, journalist and former politician Osama Al-Ghazali Harb described the operation as “an act of bullying” and warned of its implications for the entire world: “…Trump‘s kidnapping of the Venezuelan president is an act of bullying… Unfortunately, it is a reckless action based on excessive arrogance [in the use] of force. President Trump boasted about this achievement in a provocative and offensive manner. However, I believe that this ‘achievement‘ will have serious international consequences, not only for the countries of Latin America, which will be forced to protect and place guards around their leaders in their palaces and homes, but for the entire world.“[2]

The Abduction Was A Piratical Act Marking A Dark Chapter In America’s History; Relations With It Must Be Reexamined

Farouk Gouida, an Egyptian poet who writes for the state daily Al-Ahram, described the operation as “barbaric piracy” meant to convey a message to the entire world, that anyone who opposes U.S. policy will be targeted. He wrote: “The American aggression against Venezuela and the seizure of its president based on  President Trump‘s decision was the most dangerous act of international piracy the world has ever seen… I do not know what to call this operation and what its purpose is, or how a power can carry out such a barbaric piratical action against a sovereign state… and who will prevent the repetition of such violations against other governments.

“The U.S. and its president, Trump, are presenting the entire world with a new policy based on violence and on targeting anyone who opposes [America’s] policies or  leader. What happened to the Venezuelan president marks a new chapter in international relations and in the [use] of power, and raises questions as to the future of states that cannot defend themselves and as to whether the arrest of heads of state has become a norm…

“What happened to the Venezuelan president [marks] a dark chapter in U.S. history, and the countries of the world must reconsider their relations with it… The world countries must understand that the future holds many surprises, and that the arrest of the Venezuelan president is not the end of the tragedy.”[3]

A Dangerous Precedent That Could Prompt Other Countries To Take Similar Action

In an article titled “Abduction of a President,” Mohammed Barakat, a columnist for the state daily Akhbar Al-Yawm, warned that the operation, carried out in violation of international law, could legitimize similar actions by other countries. He wrote:

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“The world’s strongest country, the U.S., invaded a small country and kidnapped its president and his wife from their bedroom in an adventure or incident that resembled an action movie, while violating all laws concerning state sovereignty and the immunity of state [officials], as well as the prohibition against attacking independent and sovereign countries that are members of the UN.

“I believe it would be no exaggeration to say that this action by the U.S., which is the strongest country in the world today, [namely] allowing itself to invade a small country, kidnap its president, and put him on trial in another country without a UN Security Council resolution, without the consent of the General Assembly, and without prior approval from the International Court of Justice, is a dangerous precedent. It could open a wide door for other countries to violate the sovereignty of other states without any regard for international law or UN and Security Council resolutions… This is a very dangerous situation because it turns the world into a jungle where the strong can prey on the weak under the sovereignty of power and the law of the jungle.”[4]

This Will Be The Fate Of Any Country That Dares To Say No To The U.S.

Dandrawi Al-Hawary, acting editor of the Al-Yawm Al-Sabi’ daily, which is close to the Egyptian regime, wrote in  similar vein: “The law of the jungle has returned in its most vicious form, as has the violation of peoples’ right to live in peace and security on their own land. It is as if small countries have no right to enjoy sovereignty and independence, and the great powers claim the right to interfere in the internal affairs of smaller states…

“This attack was not carried out in response to any threat posed by Venezuela to the security and stability of the U.S., but [just] because Venezuela decided to take its own decisions and control its own natural resources, including oil, and to say ‘no’ to American economic hegemony…

“This is a message to certain countries that anyone who does not obey or meet the demands of the U.S. will be taught a lesson with a strong military attack. The American attack on Venezuela is a resounding message to any capital that thinks to deviate from the line set by Washington, as if the U.S. capital has received a divine mandate to punish anyone who raises the flag of resistance…

“The U.S. has learned nothing from the attack on Afghanistan and from the harsh and violent lesson of the occupation of Iraq…

“America’s attack on Venezuela is not an isolated event but part of its hegemonic behavior. It is not a miscalculation or a fleeting diplomatic response. [Rather,] it is a new link in the chain of attacks on countries that raise the banner of rebellion, resistance and of refusal to obey the U.S…

“The danger posed by the attack on Venezuela does not lie in the kidnapping itself or in the treatment of its president and his regime, but in the blow it dealt to the very concept of national sovereignty and the delivery of a clear message to every state: either submit to American interests, or your sovereignty will be violated and trampled under the boots of the Marines, in full view of international law and [in disregard of] human rights – now that it has become clear that these are merely slogans used to justify the violations committed by the powerful and to condemn the weak and the oppressed.”[5]

Trump Acted Like A Dictator; His Conduct Threatens The World

Al-Masri Al-Yawm columnist Muhammad Amin wrote: “…Trump disregards everything. He sought no approval from Congress or anyone else, he violated international law and disregarded the UN. [And yet] no international power in the world issued a strong statement, aside from expressions of shock, concern and frustration.

“America’s behavior threatens to dismantle the world and the UN, and allows anyone to act as they please. This is an implicit green light for Russia to swallow Ukraine and for China to invade Taiwan, spreading the language of the jungle and the survival of the strong…

“There is no doubt that Nicolás Maduro was a dictator, but what Trump did is more dictatorial and a more blatant violation of international law.”[6]

The Next Struggle May Be Over The Arab Oil

In another article in the state daily Al-Ahram, Farouk Gouida warned that Arab oil may be in danger as well, writing: “…The kidnapping of the Venezuelan president will be a historic event for the entire world, and may serve as prelude to other crimes so long as the world is governed by the logic of piracy and deception. The U.S. wants to seize Venezuela’s oil, and it may also be setting its sights on other regions… They say it is also eyeing Gaza’s oil. The next struggle may [indeed] be over Arab oil, in more than one country and in more than one place.”[7]