US Strikes on Venezuela Mark Shift in Foreign Policy Under Trump
On January 3, 2026, the United States launched overnight airstrikes on Venezuelan boats off Central America, accompanied by the armed seizure of Venezuelan oil tankers. In a dramatic escalation, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were abducted during the operation, though casualties remain unknown.
The move has been widely seen as further undermining international law and global norms, continuing a pattern of erosion in the rules-based order attributed to former President Trump's administration. Experts note that although the Maduro regime, in power since 2013, has ruled Venezuela authoritatively with elections largely regarded as rigged, the US indictments on corruption and drug trafficking – the latter viewed as a weak justification – seem secondary to the strategic interest in Venezuela's extensive oil and mineral reserves.
This latest episode recalls prior US interventions such as the 1990 Panama invasion and the 2003 Iraq invasion, highlighting a longstanding trend of legal norm erosion under US global leadership. Trump publicly praised the operation, suggesting it was well-planned and executed by troops, signaling his waning fear of entangling wars and growing embrace of military power.
However, it remains unclear how far Trump intends to proceed in Venezuela or whether Maduro’s regime will withstand the assault; a peaceful resolution appears unlikely. The operation has raised alarm among other states, including Iran and Denmark, with Trump indicating support for Iranian protesters and even threatening to seize Greenland. Denmark's defense intelligence has labeled the US a security risk amid these tensions.
Analysts interpret these developments as indicative of a 'Putinization' of US foreign policy, shifting away from promoting democracy towards engaging in great-power confrontation and resource-driven actions.
