America’s Venezuela Crisis: Just another operation or a new norm?

In the dead of night in Caracas, Venezuela, 30 American men may have changed the course of modern history. The United States Army, under the orders of President Donald Trump, conducted a covert operation with unprecedented precision. These actions have ushered in a volatile new reality that mirrors 20th-century coercive diplomacy. The consequences are a new norm in which violence is prioritized over diplomacy. Rather than dealing diplomatically with international problems, President Trump’s decision to invade and temporarily “colonize” Venezuela is a decision that may come back to haunt the United States as a much larger issue beyond South America.

What should worry us most about this conflict is the long-lasting effects of these actions beyond the operation itself. Throughout world history, events have usually been shaped by the norms set by the larger powers during that time. For example, eras in which major nations have gone to war have usually drawn in smaller nations. The United States—by conducting its operation in Venezuela—showed the world that if you have enough power, you can do as you please. During the briefing announcing the operation, Trump’s team attempted to promote the idea that only the United States could conduct an operation like this. Many, including myself, also see a resemblance to the past view of the U.S. as the “policing power” of the world, with Trump himself referencing the Monroe Doctrine in his briefing to the American public. “It’s a little crazy to just up and do this without any consent from third parties like Congress. It’s weird to me—I feel like we might have to just expect him to up and do a lot like this for his remaining presidency,” said Jackson Speiser, 11. These events led me to question what would stop Russian President Vladimir Putin from abducting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. What would stop China from kidnapping Taiwanese leadership? If President Trump intends to make the United States a policing power, would we get involved in those situations? The implications of our actions are endless and, frankly, scary. It also highlights the degradation of respect for international law within institutions such as the UN. “The credibility of international law, the authority of this Organization, and the validity of the principle that no State can set itself up as judge, party, and executor of the world order are also at stake,” said Venezuela’s United Nations representative at a meeting. There has also been an increase in rhetoric. Now more than ever, as we’ve entered a period of history with the most international conflicts since the Cold War, it’s important for us to stay up to date and informed on what is happening around the world so that we can keep ourselves safe.