Venezuela’s Crisis: Lessons From The Maduro Abduction
By BUNMI BUSOLA
Strategic Lessons and Warnings for the World
The Human and Political Cost
THE operation in Caracas claimed lives and disrupted governance, leaving Venezuela in a precarious political state. With Maduro detained and Delcy Rodriguez under US oversight, the country faces a near-impossible path to independent democratic transition. Analysts emphasize that beyond oil, the abduction signals the potential for a new era of global hegemonic assertiveness, where military intervention replaces diplomatic negotiation.
Comparisons and Historical Parallels
While the US has previously executed regime-change operations—Panama in 1989, Haiti under Aristide, Iraq and Libya—the Venezuelan incident dwarfs them in scale and brazenness. Trump’s explicit aim to control Venezuela’s oil revenues differentiates this act from previous interventions, highlighting a direct link between military action and private economic gain.
Global Response and Institutional Fragility
The international community has been divided. UN Secretary-General António Guterres decried the operation as a “dangerous precedent,” while Brazil’s President Lula da Silva condemned it as unacceptable. The incident exposes the vulnerability of international institutions when a superpower acts unilaterally. Analysts warn that such actions could embolden other states to disregard international law, destabilize conflict-prone regions, and provoke arms races or retaliatory interventions. The Maduro abduction is a cautionary tale, emphasizing the need for robust multilateral mechanisms to safeguard smaller nations from exploitation.
