In the opening days of 2026, fears of a turbulent year were swiftly realised as the United States launched overnight military strikes against Venezuela, culminating in the dramatic abduction of the country's leader, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife.
A Convoy Through the Rules-Based Order
This aggressive action represents the latest and most severe breach of international law and global norms by the administration of Donald Trump. Since taking office nearly a year prior, Trump's approach has been likened to driving bulldozers through the fragile edifice of the rules-based system, leaving it in wreckage. The Venezuela operation was preceded by other contentious acts, including airstrikes on boats off Central America and the armed seizure of Venezuelan oil tankers on the high seas, all justified by unproven allegations of drug trafficking.
From the perspective of global stability, analysts argue the most alarming aspect of the Maduro rendition is that it succeeded. This outcome risks emboldening a president whose apparent fear of foreign entanglements now seems to be waning. For a leader facing declining popularity and seeking distraction from domestic scandals, the embrace of military power marks an ominous turn.
The Allure of Oil Over Justice
While Maduro has presided over an authoritarian state since 2013 with elections widely seen as rigged, the specific US drug charges against him are considered flimsy by many experts. These allegations provided unconvincing legal grounds for the attack under international law. Trump has repeatedly expressed covetous interest in Venezuela's vast oil reserves, the largest proven in the world, suggesting resources were a greater motivator than justice or democracy.
Trump appeared exhilarated by the operation, praising the "brilliant" planning and troops involved. The attack, initially planned for Christmas Day according to one US report, signifies a pivot where the allure of foreign resources now glimmers brighter than any Nobel Peace Prize ambition.
Accelerating a Global Slide to Spheres of Influence
This event did not occur in a vacuum. Previous US administrations, from the 1990 Panama invasion to the Iraq war and drone campaigns, loosened international norms. However, Trump exhibits complete disdain for the system, viewing the world through a 19th-century imperialist lens armed with 21st-century weaponry. Commentator David Rothkopf has termed this the "Putinization of US foreign policy".
The immediate consequences are profound. Governments in Iran and Denmark, against whom Trump has recently made threats, will view the Venezuela operation with acute anxiety. The action accelerates a global slide from a rules-based order to competing spheres of influence determined by raw military power. As Russian and Chinese leaders observe, the peril unveiled in early 2026 ultimately faces everyone, signalling a dangerous new chapter in international relations.
