Venezuela Under Attack?! Is This the End of Global Order?!

Snap Insight: US attack on Venezuela further erodes what is left of old world order

Venezuela Under Attack?! Is This the End of Global...

The world is watching, holding its breath. If the recent strike on Venezuela is considered a success by the Trump administration, the big question is: where will the US President direct his attention next? That's the sentiment echoing from international security expert Professor Stefan Wolff, and frankly, it's a sentiment shared by many following the dramatic events of this past weekend.

Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela's largest military complex, was reportedly ablaze following a series of explosions in Caracas on January 3, 2026. This, coupled with the reported capture of Nicolas Maduro by US special forces, represents a very clear display of American power, no question. But it also feels like a blatant disregard for international law. We're talking about the potential unraveling of established norms, folks.

Trump, of course, has repeatedly accused Maduro of trafficking narcotics into the US. He announced in a press conference that the US would administer Venezuela until a "proper transition" could occur. Tellingly, though, he stopped short of committing troops to a full-scale occupation. He asserted that the US and the entire Western Hemisphere were now significantly safer. Whether that justifies the means…well, that's the million-dollar question.

Regardless of the justifications offered by the Trump administration, this action further undermines the already fragile rules-based international order. In my opinion, it feels like a step back towards a world defined by spheres of influence, almost like a throwback to the 19th-century Monroe Doctrine and Trump's own recently released national security strategy. It's unsettling, to say the least.

Unsurprisingly, several countries in the Western Hemisphere – nations the US considers its core sphere of influence – have denounced the US operation. Russia and China have, predictably, also voiced their strong disapproval. The Trump administration clearly holds the cards now, but much hinges on the reaction of the Venezuelan people.

While Maduro wasn't exactly beloved, he and his inner circle maintained a pretty tight grip on the armed forces and security apparatus. His government, for now, remains in power. But his capture could spark infighting among the remaining elite, and potentially trigger a new wave of mass protests against the regime. It's a powder keg situation, and the fuse has been lit.

In the immediate aftermath, Venezuela's defense minister declared that the country would resist any foreign troop presence and that all of the nation's armed forces would be deployed. The big unknown is whether those forces will actually engage in combat during a potential second wave of US strikes – strikes threatened by Trump in that very same press conference. It's difficult to know what to expect.

Equally unclear is how Maduro's supporters and opponents will position themselves in the coming days, and what specific plans the White House has in place to address potential widespread unrest in Venezuela. This is a critical juncture, and the repercussions of this US operation will extend far beyond Venezuela's borders. We’re living in interesting times, that’s for sure.

Stefan Wolff is Professor of International Security at the University of Birmingham and head of the Department of Political Science and International Studies.

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