Sky News at Ten | Trump says 'US going to run Venezuela' after capturing Maduro

Key Concepts

• US Intervention in Venezuela: The capture of Nicolás Maduro by US forces and his subsequent transport to the US for legal proceedings.
• Revived Monroe Doctrine: The Trump administration’s expanded interpretation of the Monroe Doctrine, asserting US dominance in the Americas and justifying intervention based on perceived wrongdoing.
• Shifting Global Order: The potential for a new world order emerging, characterized by a transactional approach to international relations and tacit agreements between major powers (US, Russia, China).
• Erosion of International Law: The US administration’s perceived disregard for international law and multilateral institutions, prioritizing unilateral action.

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Maduro’s Capture & Immediate Aftermath

At 2:01 AM, US troops captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife in Caracas, Venezuela, in what was described as a “textbook operation” with no US casualties, though Venezuelan casualties did occur. Maduro was transported via military aircraft to Stewart Air Force Base in Newburgh, New York, and is expected to be transferred to the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn. He will be processed as an indicted individual, with an arraignment anticipated as early as Monday, and held alongside common criminals while awaiting trial. His wife is also included in a superseding indictment. Security measures during transport included blindfolding and handcuffing Maduro, accompanied by a heavy armed escort and DEA agents documenting the process. President Trump took personal pride in the operation, monitoring it in real-time and publicly celebrating its success, framing it as a response to the drug trade (despite fentanyl being the primary US drug concern) and invoking the Monroe Doctrine. Initial international reaction included alarm from the UN Secretary-General regarding potential breaches of international law and strong condemnation from Democrats in the US Congress, characterizing the action as a planned occupation. The operation drew parallels to past US interventions, such as the removal of Saddam Hussein and the CIA’s involvement in regime change in Iran. Venezuela’s oil reserves were highlighted as a key motivator, with Trump explicitly mentioning potential benefits for US oil companies. Anticipation of a “per walk” – Maduro being publicly paraded before the media – was presented as a deliberate tactic.

The “Trump Corollary” and a New Era of Geopolitics

The capture of Maduro is viewed as a manifestation of a revived and expanded interpretation of the Monroe Doctrine, dubbed the “Trump Corollary,” building on the Roosevelt Corollary. This asserts the US has the right to intervene in the Americas based on perceived “chronic wrongdoing” or “hostile or criminal behavior.” This approach is described as “extraordinarily fairly eccentric and radical” and a deliberate setting aside of international law. The administration is described as “unabashed” and “unashamed” in pursuing this policy, potentially extending it to countries like Cuba, Panama, Mexico, Canada, and even Greenland. The UN is characterized not as a “world police force” but as a “club of nations” with limited enforcement power, particularly against permanent Security Council members like the US and Russia (described as a “rogue member”). The world is entering a “rocky ride” with the possibility of Donald Trump remaining president for another three years.

A Potential New World Order & Shifting Alliances

The segment posits a potential new world order emerging, triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the US’s perceived unwillingness to fully counter it, combined with the Trump administration’s disregard for international rules. A “grand bargain” might be underway between the US, Russia, and China, granting the US greater influence in the Americas in exchange for allowing Russia more leeway in Europe and China in the Pacific. Maduro’s capture is presented as a potential indicator of this shift, suggesting Russia and China may have tacitly agreed to his removal, abandoning a former ally. Professor Cleon Rally described Maduro’s capture as a “kidnapping.” Trump’s transactional worldview and lack of interest in multilateral cooperation are driving forces behind this shift. His statement regarding Venezuela’s oil – “we’re going to take the oil…and don’t worry about how it’s going to be paid for because what comes out of the ground is going to help pay for it” – was criticized as sounding “very colonial.”

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Conclusion

The capture of Nicolás Maduro represents more than a law enforcement operation; it signifies a potential turning point in US foreign policy and the global order. The administration’s assertive revival of the Monroe Doctrine, coupled with a disregard for international norms and a transactional approach to international relations, raises concerns about the future of multilateralism and the potential for increased US intervention in the Americas. The possibility of a tacit agreement between major powers – the US, Russia, and China – to reshape spheres of influence suggests a fundamental shift in the geopolitical landscape, with potentially far-reaching consequences for global stability and the rule of law.