January 4, 2026 | Kampala / Hargeisa — Dalena Reporters
KAMPALA — Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Sunday, January 4, 2026, used the unfolding United States–Venezuela crisis as a basis to argue that even the world’s most powerful military can be vulnerable in certain confrontations, saying that ground conflict reduces Washington’s strategic advantage and affirming the need for Pan-African security cooperation among African states.
Addressing audiences during a televised dialogue in the Ugandan capital, Museveni said the U.S. military’s overwhelming air, sea and space capabilities may offer dominance at a distance, but those advantages dissipate in close range, ground engagements a point he linked to the recent U.S. operation in Venezuela that saw American forces strike targets around Caracas and detain President Nicolás Maduro. “Although the Americans are powerful in the air and navy, … if they come within close range on land, we can harm them,” Museveni said.
His remarks came as part of a broader commentary on the strategic gaps exposed by major power interventions and the need for African unity in defence and security matters. Museveni asserted that the absence of a collective African “centre of gravity” a unified defence and resource base that includes capabilities across land, sea, air and space leaves the continent vulnerable in a globally competitive security environment.
“It’s very risky for us,” he said, stressing that African nations should pursue stronger Pan-African cooperation to mitigate external vulnerabilities a theme he tied to historical attempts at unity dating back to the early post-independence era. Museveni invoked past efforts by African leaders to integrate strategically, arguing that political fragmentation has hindered collective capability.
The Ugandan leader also emphasised that his analysis of the U.S. action in Venezuela is ongoing, noting: “I’m still watching, studying it … but whatever the case, you can see the gaps.” His comments reflect a wider critique of global power imbalances, urging African states to build capacity and collaboration rather than rely on external powers for security guarantees.
Museveni’s strategic framing comes amid heightened global debate over the legality and consequences of the U.S. intervention in Venezuela, which has prompted strong reactions from regional blocs and the United Nations Security Council slated to review the situation this week amid fears of a “dangerous precedent” in international law.
Contextually, Museveni’s remarks align with longstanding arguments by African leaders for greater continental autonomy in defence and diplomacy — especially in light of superpower engagements that shift geopolitical calculations and highlight asymmetries in military reach.