🔗 Share this article Trump's Capture of Maduro: Turning a Global Superpower into a Lawless Actor Amid the widespread uncertainty regarding the US strikes on Venezuela, the seizure of leader Nicolás Maduro, and Donald Trump's announcement that the US will “manage” the country and “reclaim the petroleum resources”, a single fact remains evident – they set a profoundly disturbing precedent. A Dark Legacy and an Unprecedented Move The United States possesses a dark record of interference, invasion and occupation in Latin America, but this past Saturday morning witnessed its initial significant armed assault on South American land. “American dominance in the western hemisphere will never be questioned again,” Trump proclaimed. The move to assault another sovereign country and abduct its leader – only a few days after he stated a desire for negotiations – 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, commonly thought to have stolen the last election. They now face profound uncertainty at best. Mr Trump has suggested that Maduro's second-in-command, Delcy Rodríguez would follow US instructions, and rejected rightwing opposition leader and Nobel prize-winner María Corina Machado as a credible successor. However, Ms Rodríguez, now the interim president, has so far adopted a posture of resistance – and other elements of the headless administration are considerably more radical. A Shift in Global Role A man who came to office promising to abandon foreign wars now says he is “unconcerned about deploying troops”. Redesignating the Department of Defense as the Department of War was not merely symbolic. He no longer views the world’s superpower as a international peacekeeper; he is transforming it into a rogue state. He holds the view that the US’s might permits it to do as it wishes with little consequence: consider the attacks in Nigeria and against Iranian nuclear sites. He promises that control of Venezuela's petroleum means this most recent venture “will be financially free”. An Illegal Assault on Sovereignty George W. Bush invaded Iraq on a lie. But this illegal attack 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 aims not merely to stretch international norms, but to destroy them. Disregard the message this sends to Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping and others, and consider the destination for America itself. While the raid allegedly resulted in the deaths of 40 Venezuelans, including civilians, not a single US soldier was lost. Mr Trump’s escalating feeling of being untouchable will almost certainly fuel further adventurism. Flimsy Justifications and Underlying Drivers No one buys the justification that this is concerning narcotics. Venezuela is only a minor conduit for cocaine; Mr Trump recently pardoned the ex-leader of Honduras Juan Orlando Hernández for related criminal convictions. Mr Trump himself has been explicit that he is driven by the promise of energy wealth as well as a desire to project strength, the ideology of some in his administration, and the appetite for triumphalism as his support at home declines. World Leaders' Silence and a Weakened UN The global reaction, especially in Europe, has – with notable outliers – been surprisingly subdued. That’s not due to Mr Maduro’s sins, but anxiety over Mr Trump’s wrath. The firm response from UN Secretary General António Guterres was notable, but this episode highlights the UN's diminishing clout. Mr Trump’s voters who oppose foreign entanglements could potentially force him to focus on domestic issues once more – but escalating insurance prices, economic unhappiness and other domestic scandals fuel his desire for external drama. It has been less than 12 months into his time in office. Other governments may live to repent if they remain quiet at this juncture, with the question of which nation is next looming.