On January 3, 2026, in the quiet pre-dawn hours, U.S. forces carried out a dramatic raid in Caracas that ended with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro blindfolded and flown to a federal detention center in Brooklyn. Two days later, he appeared before a Manhattan magistrate, marking an unprecedented clash between raw power and established international norms ⚖️.
This operation, dubbed "Absolute Resolve," bypassed the United Nations and sidestepped any formal declaration of war. By treating the capture as a domestic law enforcement action, the U.S. has effectively turned its judicial system into a tool of regime change. Critics are calling this the “Trump Corollary,” a stark reminder that in this new era, might can feel more important than right 🏛️.
Acting swiftly, Delcy Rodriguez—formerly Venezuela’s vice president—was sworn in and urged respectful dialogue. But Washington’s warning of a "bigger price" if she didn’t comply, along with threats of military strikes in nearby Colombia and Mexico, has only fueled concerns across the region 💥.
The backlash is already global. Protests have erupted from Caracas to New York, and the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Beijing publicly expressed “grave concern,” accusing the U.S. of violating international law. Meanwhile, analysts wonder: If the world’s leading power can kidnap a head of state under the banner of counter-narcotics, who’s to stop others from using similar tactics for their own agendas?
As the dust settles, this raid forces a tough question: Are we witnessing the end of a rules-based international order? With alliances shaken and global trust at stake, the events of January 2026 may redefine how nations interact for years to come 🌎.
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Might makes right? U.S. raid on Venezuela & the threat to global order
cgtn.com
