🔗 Share this article From Superpower to Rogue State: The Implications of the US Seizure of Venezuela's Maduro Amid the immense confusion surrounding the United States attacks on Venezuela, the apprehension of leader Nicolás Maduro, and statements from Trump that the US will “manage” the country and “take back the oil”, a single fact remains evident – they set a truly chilling precedent. A Grim History and a New Escalation The United States possesses a dark record of meddling, military incursions, and control in the region, but the early hours of Saturday saw its premier large-scale offensive on South American land. “The preeminence of America in this region is now beyond dispute,” the President stated. The move to assault another independent nation and seize its president – just a short time after he publicly sought an off-ramp – possesses far-reaching consequences. This ought to concern everyone. Deep Instability for a Nation in Crisis Venezuelans have suffered under an oppressive, corrupt, and inept government under Mr Maduro, commonly thought to have stolen the last election. They now face a future of deep insecurity. Mr Trump has indicated that Maduro's second-in-command, 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 sounded notes of defiance – and other elements of the leadership-stricken government are even more hardline. From Global Policeman to International Outlaw A man who came to office vowing to end foreign wars now says he is “not afraid of boots on the ground”. Rebranding the Department of Defense as the Department of War was a substantive signal. He fails to perceive the world’s superpower as a international peacekeeper; he is transforming it into a lawless actor. He believes that the United States' strength permits it to do as it wishes with minimal cost: observe the attacks in Nigeria and against Iranian nuclear sites. He claims that the oil resources of Venezuela means this new undertaking “won’t cost us a penny”. 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 congressional approval; key legislators received no advance notice and say they were given false information in briefings. Mr Trump doesn’t seek to bend international norms, but to shatter them. Set aside the message this sends to leaders in Moscow, Beijing, and beyond, and question the future path of the United States. While the raid allegedly resulted in the deaths of 40 Venezuelans, including civilians, no US personnel died. Mr Trump’s growing sense of invincibility will likely encourage further adventurism. Flimsy Justifications and Underlying Drivers Few believe the justification that this is related to the drug trade. Venezuela is only a minor conduit for cocaine; Mr Trump recently pardoned the former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández for drugs and weapons crimes. Mr Trump himself has been explicit that he is motivated by the lure of oil as well as machismo, the beliefs held by certain advisors, and the quest for a legacy as his support at home declines. Tepid International Response and Waning Global Governance The worldwide reception, especially in Europe, has – with notable outliers – been surprisingly subdued. That’s not because of Mr Maduro’s sins, but fear of Mr Trump’s wrath. The strong reaction from UN Secretary General António Guterres was welcome, but this episode highlights the institution’s growing irrelevance. Mr Trump’s anti-interventionist domestic base could potentially force him to turn attention back home – but escalating insurance prices, economic unhappiness and distracting files make foreign conflicts more appealing. Barely 12 months into his presidential term. Other governments may regret it if they remain quiet at this juncture, with the question of which nation is next looming.