US President Donald Trump's actions in Venezuela have sent a chilling message to the world, marking a turning point in American foreign policy. The overnight raid on Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, coupled with the US declaration of intent to "run" the country and sell its oil, has pushed international law and global norms to breaking point.
Trump's aggressive approach to foreign policy is reminiscent of 19th-century imperialism, with the added capability of modern military might. The Venezuelan operation bears striking similarities to previous US invasions, including the invasion of Panama in 1989, which resulted in the forced surrender of a strongman. The younger George Bush's invasion of Iraq on false pretenses and his administration's use of rendition and torture also come to mind.
The Trump administration has shown disdain for international laws and norms, opting instead to pursue its interests at any cost. This is evident in the targeting of small boats in Central American waters and the killing of crew members accused of drug trafficking, as well as the armed seizure of Venezuelan oil tankers on the high seas.
While some may argue that Trump's actions in Venezuela are justified by Maduro's alleged corruption and drug trafficking, experts contend that these claims are flimsy and would not provide a convincing basis for the attack. The US has been clear about its intentions to exploit Venezuela's oil resources, with President Trump stating that the country will be "selling large amounts of oil" under American control.
The implications of this development are far-reaching, with many governments, including Iran and Denmark, expressing concern over the Trump administration's aggressive approach. The notion of competing spheres of influence, determined by armed might and readiness to use it, threatens to destabilize the international system.
As former US commentator David Rothkopf has noted, Trump's actions mark a "Putinization" of US foreign policy, where the emphasis shifts from promoting global norms and institutions to pursuing American interests through coercion. This shift is likely to have significant consequences for global stability and the balance of power.
Ultimately, the international community will need to confront this new reality, one that prioritizes military might over diplomacy and cooperation. The risks associated with Trump's approach are very real, and it remains to be seen whether other nations will stand idly by as the US seeks to assert its dominance in the region.
Trump's aggressive approach to foreign policy is reminiscent of 19th-century imperialism, with the added capability of modern military might. The Venezuelan operation bears striking similarities to previous US invasions, including the invasion of Panama in 1989, which resulted in the forced surrender of a strongman. The younger George Bush's invasion of Iraq on false pretenses and his administration's use of rendition and torture also come to mind.
The Trump administration has shown disdain for international laws and norms, opting instead to pursue its interests at any cost. This is evident in the targeting of small boats in Central American waters and the killing of crew members accused of drug trafficking, as well as the armed seizure of Venezuelan oil tankers on the high seas.
While some may argue that Trump's actions in Venezuela are justified by Maduro's alleged corruption and drug trafficking, experts contend that these claims are flimsy and would not provide a convincing basis for the attack. The US has been clear about its intentions to exploit Venezuela's oil resources, with President Trump stating that the country will be "selling large amounts of oil" under American control.
The implications of this development are far-reaching, with many governments, including Iran and Denmark, expressing concern over the Trump administration's aggressive approach. The notion of competing spheres of influence, determined by armed might and readiness to use it, threatens to destabilize the international system.
As former US commentator David Rothkopf has noted, Trump's actions mark a "Putinization" of US foreign policy, where the emphasis shifts from promoting global norms and institutions to pursuing American interests through coercion. This shift is likely to have significant consequences for global stability and the balance of power.
Ultimately, the international community will need to confront this new reality, one that prioritizes military might over diplomacy and cooperation. The risks associated with Trump's approach are very real, and it remains to be seen whether other nations will stand idly by as the US seeks to assert its dominance in the region.
i'm getting really worried about this... its like a slippery slope, where do we draw the line? if the us is gonna just take over countries and exploit their resources when they're not cooperating, what's next? 
it reminds me of when china was all secretive with their human rights record but everyone thought nothing of it because they were 'successful' economically. now we see them being super aggressive on the world stage too... anyway, gotta stay vigilant and speak out against this kind of behavior 
. It feels like the US is trying to take control of a country that's already struggling 
The way Trump is going on about selling their oil and running the country is just crazy 
. And what's next? Is he gonna start invading other countries too? 
.
. What about human rights and democracy and all that jazz? 
It feels like Trump is more interested in getting what he wants than in doing what's right 
.
. Iran and Denmark have already expressed concern, but I bet there are plenty of others who are just waiting to see what happens next 
. It's like the whole world is holding its breath, wondering if we're all just gonna stand by while Trump goes around the world doing his thing 
.
. We need some leaders who care about diplomacy and cooperation, not just military might and exploitation 
.
. I mean, even if Maduro did do some bad stuff, does that justify the US to just go and take over his country? 
. I mean, come on, can't he see that this is gonna lead to some serious global instability? 
We need diplomacy and cooperation, not just military might 
. Newsflash, Trump: exploiting resources ain't gonna solve no problems, it's just gonna make you a lot of enemies 
.
".
, and we're all gonna have to deal with the consequences 
, got all twisted up 
. Trump's actions in Venezuela are like a slap in the face 
, each one has its own interests 
. But when you put your foot down 
. The world needs diplomacy 
and cooperation 
, not just military might 
.
. If other countries don't stand up 
... or a big mess 
, one that balances our interests 
.
. this whole thing is giving me anxiety 
moving in, but one country just takes over 
right now! Trump's actions are like a big red flag 
saying "Hey, we're not playing by the rules anymore" 
. I mean, who needs international law when you can just take what you want? 
, but instead of a lasso, it's guns and military might 
. There are already countries expressing concern 
, but instead of territories, it's countries and global stability 
. 2025 is already seeing record-high oil prices, and now trump's throwing his hat into the ring? 
that's like trying to solve world hunger with a tweetstorm 
.
here are some charts to illustrate the trajectory of venezuela's economic decline and the rise of the usa as a dominant oil player: