US Raid on Venezuela: A Blow to Rules-Based World Order?

• US forces conducted a military raid in Venezuela in early January 2026, seizing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, transporting them to New York for federal charges.
• The Trump administration framed the operation as "law enforcement" against narco-trafficking, but critics view it as direct intervention and potential regime change.
• The action is widely condemned as a violation of international law, specifically Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, lacking UN Security Council authorization or host nation consent.
• Global leaders, including the EU, Spain, and several Latin American nations, warned of a dangerous precedent that undermines the "rules-based international order."
• The raid raises critical questions about great powers upholding international law while acting unilaterally, potentially leading to a "global Wild West."

Why It Matters: US raid on Venezuela challenges international law and the rules-based world order, setting a dangerous precedent.