Trump's Capture of Maduro: Turning a Global Superpower into a Lawless Actor
Within the immense confusion regarding the US strikes on Venezuela, the apprehension of President Nicolás Maduro, and the declaration by Donald Trump that the US will “run” the country and “reclaim the petroleum resources”, there is no doubt – this establishes a profoundly disturbing precedent.
Past Interference and a New Threshold Crossed
The United States has a grim history of interference, invasion and occupation in the region, but the recent overnight operation witnessed its first major military attack on South American land. “US supremacy in this hemisphere shall not be challenged from now on,” Trump proclaimed.
The decision to unilaterally attack another state and seize its president – just a short time after he publicly sought an off-ramp – has still wider repercussions. It should alarm us all.
A Nation Left in Limbo
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 a future of deep insecurity. Mr Trump has indicated that the vice president, Delcy Rodríguez would follow US instructions, and dismissed prominent critic and Nobel prize-winner María Corina Machado as a viable alternative.
However, Ms Rodríguez, now the interim president, has so far struck a defiant tone – and other elements of the headless administration are even more hardline.
A Shift in Global Role
A man who was elected promising to abandon foreign wars now says he is “unconcerned about deploying troops”. Renaming the Department of Defense as the Department of War was not merely symbolic. He does not see the world’s superpower as a international peacekeeper; he is converting it into a lawless actor.
He believes that the United States' strength permits it to do as it wishes with little consequence: witness the military actions against Nigeria and Iranian installations. He asserts that the oil resources of Venezuela means this most recent venture “will be financially free”.
An Attack Without Legal Justification
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; Democrats were not even informed and say they were given false information in briefings. Mr Trump doesn’t seek to bend international norms, but to destroy them.
Put aside the message this sends to leaders in Moscow, Beijing, and beyond, and ask where the US itself is heading. While the raid reportedly killed 40 Venezuelans, including civilians, no US personnel died. Mr Trump’s growing sense of invincibility will surely embolden additional military gambits.
The Thin Pretext and True Motives
Few believe the excuse that this is related to the drug trade. Venezuela is only a minor conduit for cocaine; Mr Trump recently pardoned the past Honduran leader Juan Orlando Hernández for narcotics and arms offenses. Mr Trump himself has been explicit that he is motivated by the promise of energy wealth as well as personal bravado, the ideology of some in his administration, and the desire for glory as his support at home declines.
A Muted Global Reaction and Institutional Irrelevance
The worldwide reception, especially in Europe, has – with notable outliers – been alarmingly quiet. 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 notable, but this episode underscores the institution’s growing irrelevance.
Mr Trump’s voters who oppose foreign entanglements could potentially force him to turn attention back home – but escalating insurance prices, public anxiety over the economy and other domestic scandals increase his appetite for distraction.
Barely 12 months into his four-year term. The international community may live to repent if they remain quiet at this juncture, considering the potential next target.