US Actions in Venezuela Normalize Power Takeovers, Expert Says

The Capture of Nicolas Maduro: An Illegal Action by the United States

The capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro constitutes an attack by the United States, which violates not only international law but also American political boundaries, asserts an analyst. This incident is part of a "new imperialist era" of the US, focused on oil and strategic interests, risking the normalization of similar actions by other powers, according to Sultan Barakat, a senior professor at the College of Public Policy at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar.

Criticism of Trump's Policies

American President Donald Trump "sidesteps international law and Venezuelan regulations, disregarding the wishes of the Venezuelan people," stated Barakat. The policies and rhetoric during Trump's administration have "shifted" American politics, intensifying nationalism, and intertwining Christianity with governance, trends that will distort the existing international order.

Legality of US Actions

Trump's illegal actions highlight that a state cannot take or remove the leader of another sovereign state without the authorization of the UN Security Council. Barakat stressed that interventions should only be justified in defense of a persecuted people, to prevent genocide and crimes against humanity.

Impact on International Order

The operation in Venezuela could provide Russia and China justifications for similar international actions. "If I were Vladimir Putin, I would be wondering how I can gain control over Zelensky," Barakat added, emphasizing that the precedent set in Venezuela weakens the current international order.