The US Seizure of Maduro: How Trump Has Transformed the World's Superpower into a Rogue State
Against the backdrop of the immense confusion regarding the United States attacks on Venezuela, the apprehension of leader Nicolás Maduro, and statements from Trump that the US will “manage” the country and “reclaim the petroleum resources”, a single fact remains evident – this establishes a deeply alarming precedent.
A Grim History and a New Escalation
The United States carries a troubling legacy of interference, invasion and occupation in the region, but this past Saturday morning marked its premier large-scale offensive on the soil of a South American nation. “American dominance in the western hemisphere will never be questioned again,” Trump proclaimed.
The decision to unilaterally attack another sovereign country and abduct its leader – mere days after he stated a desire for negotiations – possesses far-reaching consequences. This ought to concern everyone.
Deep Instability for a Nation in Crisis
Venezuelans have lived through a dictatorship marked by theft and failure under Mr Maduro, largely considered to have stolen the last election. They now face profound uncertainty at best. Mr Trump has remarked that Mr Maduro’s deputy, Delcy Rodríguez would do as the US says, and brushed aside prominent critic and Nobel prize-winner María Corina Machado as a plausible replacement.
However, Ms Rodríguez, now the interim president, has so far struck a defiant tone – and other parts of the headless administration are far more intransigent.
A Shift in Global Role
A man who came to office vowing to end foreign wars now says he is “willing to put soldiers into combat”. Rebranding the Department of Defense as the Department of War was more than posturing. He does not see the world’s superpower as a global policeman; he is turning it into a rogue state.
He believes that the America's power permits it to do as it wishes with minimal cost: consider the attacks in Nigeria and against Iranian nuclear sites. He asserts that Venezuelan oil means this new undertaking “will be financially free”.
An Illegal Assault on Sovereignty
George W. Bush initiated war in Iraq on a lie. But this unlawful assault came lacking any form of UN approval or authorization from lawmakers; the opposition party was kept in the dark and say they were actively misled in briefings. Mr Trump doesn’t seek to bend international norms, but to obliterate them.
Put aside the message this sends to global powers like Russia and China, and question the future path of the United States. While the raid allegedly resulted in the deaths of 40 Venezuelans, including civilians, not a single US soldier was lost. Mr Trump’s growing sense of invincibility will almost certainly fuel further adventurism.
The Thin Pretext and True Motives
No one buys the pretext that this is concerning narcotics. Venezuela is only a minor conduit for cocaine; Mr Trump recently granted clemency to the former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández for related criminal convictions. Mr Trump himself has stated plainly that he is propelled by the promise of energy wealth as well as a desire to project strength, the ideology of some in his administration, and the desire for glory as his support at home declines.
Tepid International Response and Waning Global Governance
The global reaction, especially in Europe, has – with a few principled deviations – been shockingly muted. That’s not a result of Mr Maduro’s sins, but trepidation regarding Mr Trump’s wrath. The firm response from UN Secretary General António Guterres was welcome, but this episode underscores the UN's diminishing clout.
Mr Trump’s voters who oppose foreign entanglements could yet press him to focus on domestic issues once more – but escalating insurance prices, economic unhappiness and other domestic scandals fuel his desire for external drama.
We are not yet 12 months into his time in office. Other governments may come to rue the day if they stay silent now, given what – and who – could be next.