The international landscape has been fundamentally reshaped following a dramatic military operation authorised by US President Donald Trump. Over the weekend, American forces successfully extracted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from Caracas, intending to bring him to trial in the United States on drug trafficking charges.
This audacious assault has effectively discarded the remnants of the established rules-based international order, sending shockwaves through global capitals. As the world grapples with this seismic event, the Trump administration is already planning its next strategic moves to secure US interests in what it considers "our hemisphere."
Reaction and Planning Behind the Caracas Operation
Reporting from the ground in Venezuela, led by Latin American correspondent Tom Phillips, captures the immediate reaction to Maduro's abduction. The response within Caracas and among Venezuela's closest regional neighbours is one of profound adjustment and uncertainty.
Meanwhile, defence editor Dan Sabbagh provides a detailed explanation of how the US military meticulously planned and executed the complex operation. This follows a period of US military buildup and a naval blockade of Venezuela, actions Trump had framed as necessary to hold Maduro accountable.
The US President had repeatedly claimed Maduro needed to be "brought to justice" for allegedly facilitating drug trafficking into the United States, which he blamed for thousands of American deaths. However, as noted by international commentators Julian Borger and Nesrine Malik, this justification appears exceptionally thin.
Oil Reserves and the Geopolitical Fallout
It became evident by last Saturday that the administration's primary focus was not solely on narcotics enforcement. Analysts point to Venezuela's vast oil reserves as a central, if unstated, motive behind the intervention. The implications of this power play will dominate global news and analysis for the foreseeable future as nations recalibrate their foreign policies in response to Washington's unilateral action.
While this story defines the beginning of the year, the forthcoming edition of the Guardian Weekly, dated 9 January, features several other essential reads.
Highlights from the Guardian Weekly Edition
The edition's Spotlight section turns to Iran, where an ailing economy and a plummeting currency exchange rate have triggered the largest street protests in years, reported by Deepa Parent and William Christou.
In Science, Patrick Greenfield investigates the tantalising prospect of de-extinction, asking whether bringing species like woolly mammoths back to life is scientifically feasible or merely captures the public imagination.
A Feature explores the power and purpose of guilt, with psychologist Chris Moore explaining its complex role in human behaviour to Emine Saner.
Opinion writer Paul Taylor bids a fond adieu to the traditional French bistro lunch, mourning the decline of this convivial and unpretentious part of working culture.
In Culture, Matthew Cantor examines a new genre of social media comedy that pokes fun at the 'manosphere', questioning whether the much-discussed crisis in masculinity has become a source of humour.
Other notable items in the edition include:
- A remarkable personal story about surfer Ingrid LeFebour's near-death experience on the remote island of Nias.
- An obituary for the celebrated artist and fashion journalist Molly Parkin, who died at 93, recalling her journey from Wales to the heart of 1960s bohemia.
- Additional online highlights such as a podcast on the crude appeal of Venezuela's oil, a 360-degree video of Sydney's new GreenWay trail, and a gallery of Ed Kashi's global photojournalism.
The repercussions of the intervention in Venezuela mark the start of a turbulent new chapter in global affairs, the full consequences of which are yet to unfold.
