🔗 Share this article The US Seizure of Maduro: How Trump Has Transformed the World's Superpower into a Rogue State Against the backdrop of the widespread uncertainty surrounding the United States attacks on Venezuela, the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, and statements from Trump that the US will “manage” the country and “seize control of the oil”, one thing is clear – these actions create a truly chilling precedent. A Grim History and a New Escalation The United States possesses a dark record of interference, invasion and occupation in that part of the world, but the early hours of Saturday saw its first major military attack on South American land. “American dominance in the western hemisphere will never be questioned again,” Mr Trump declared. The move to assault another independent nation and seize its president – only a few days after he publicly sought an off-ramp – has still wider repercussions. We all have reason to be worried. Profound Uncertainty for Venezuela Venezuelans have suffered under an oppressive, corrupt, and inept government under Mr Maduro, widely believed to have fraudulently won the most recent election. They now face a future of deep insecurity. Mr Trump has indicated that Mr Maduro’s deputy, Delcy Rodríguez would do as the US says, and rejected rightwing opposition leader and Nobel prize-winner María Corina Machado as a plausible replacement. However, Ms Rodríguez, now the temporary head of state, has so far sounded notes of defiance – and other parts of the headless administration are even more hardline. A Shift in Global Role A man who was elected promising to abandon foreign wars now says he is “unconcerned about deploying troops”. Redesignating the Department of Defense as the Department of War was more than posturing. He no longer views the world’s superpower as a international peacekeeper; he is converting it into a rogue state. He holds the view that the America's power enables it to do as it wishes with scant penalty: consider the military actions against Nigeria and Iranian installations. He claims that Venezuelan oil means this latest episode “won’t cost us a penny”. An Illegal Assault on Sovereignty George W. Bush initiated war in Iraq on a lie. But this unlawful assault came absent any United Nations mandate or the consent of the US Congress; Democrats were not even informed and say they were given false information in briefings. Mr Trump aims not merely to stretch international norms, but to shatter them. Disregard the signal this transmits to Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping and others, and question the future path of the United States. While the raid is said to have slain 40 Venezuelans, including civilians, there were no American fatalities. Mr Trump’s escalating feeling of being untouchable will almost certainly fuel further adventurism. The Stated Reason Versus the Real Aims No one buys the excuse that this is related to the drug trade. Venezuela is only a small transit route for cocaine; Mr Trump recently exonerated the former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández for narcotics and arms offenses. Mr Trump himself has been explicit that he is motivated by the lure of oil as well as machismo, the ideology of some in his administration, and the quest for a legacy as domestic popularity wanes. Tepid International Response and Waning Global Governance The global reaction, especially in Europe, has – with honourable exceptions – been alarmingly quiet. That’s not because of Mr Maduro’s sins, but trepidation regarding Mr Trump’s wrath. The firm response from UN Secretary General António Guterres was notable, but this episode highlights the institution’s growing irrelevance. Mr Trump’s anti-interventionist domestic base could still pressure him to redirect his gaze inward – but escalating insurance prices, public anxiety over the economy and ongoing controversies fuel his desire for external drama. Barely 12 months into his time in office. World leaders may come to rue the day if they remain quiet at this juncture, with the question of which nation is next looming.