đź”— Share this article Trump's Capture of Maduro: Turning a Global Superpower into a Lawless Actor Against the backdrop of the immense confusion regarding the United States attacks on Venezuela, the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, and the declaration by Donald Trump that the US will “control” the country and “take back the oil”, one thing is clear – these actions create a profoundly disturbing precedent. Past Interference and a New Threshold Crossed The United States has a grim history of meddling, military incursions, and control in Latin America, but this past Saturday morning marked its initial significant armed assault on the soil of a South American nation. “US supremacy in this hemisphere shall not be challenged from now on,” Mr Trump declared. The decision to unilaterally attack another sovereign country and capture its head of state – mere days after he publicly sought an off-ramp – carries even broader implications. It should alarm us all. A Nation Left in Limbo Venezuelans have endured a repressive, kleptocratic and incompetent regime under Mr Maduro, widely believed to have rigged the previous presidential vote. They now face profound uncertainty at best. Mr Trump has remarked that the vice president, Delcy RodrĂguez would do as the US says, and dismissed rightwing opposition leader and Nobel prize-winner MarĂa Corina Machado as a credible successor. However, Ms RodrĂguez, now the temporary head of state, has so far struck a defiant tone – and other elements of the decapitated regime are far more intransigent. The Superpower as Rogue State A man who came to office promising to abandon foreign wars now says he is “unconcerned about deploying troops”. Rebranding the Department of Defense as the Department of War was more than posturing. He no longer views the world’s superpower as a guardian of order; he is converting it into a lawless actor. He is convinced that the America's power enables it to do as it wishes with scant penalty: witness the military actions against Nigeria and Iranian installations. He promises that Venezuelan oil means this new undertaking “won’t cost us a penny”. An Illegal Assault on Sovereignty George W. Bush initiated war in Iraq on a lie. But this illegal attack came without UN resolutions of any kind or the consent of the US Congress; the opposition party was kept in the dark and say they were deliberately deceived in briefings. Mr Trump is not trying to twist international norms, but to obliterate them. Disregard the signal this transmits to global powers like Russia and China, and consider the destination for America itself. While the raid allegedly resulted in the deaths of 40 Venezuelans, including civilians, there were no American fatalities. Mr Trump’s escalating feeling of being untouchable will almost certainly fuel further adventurism. The Thin Pretext and True Motives No one buys the excuse that this is concerning narcotics. Venezuela is only a secondary pathway for cocaine; Mr Trump recently exonerated the ex-leader of Honduras Juan Orlando Hernández for drugs and weapons crimes. Mr Trump himself has stated plainly that he is motivated by the lure of oil as well as personal bravado, the ideology of some in his administration, and the desire for glory as domestic popularity wanes. Tepid International Response and Waning Global Governance 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 strong reaction from UN Secretary General AntĂłnio Guterres was notable, but this episode highlights the UN's diminishing clout. Mr Trump’s anti-interventionist domestic base could potentially force him to redirect his gaze inward – but rising medical costs, economic unhappiness and distracting files increase his appetite for distraction. Barely 12 months into his time in office. The international community may regret it if they stay silent now, considering the potential next target.