Trump's Venezuela Strike Sets Dangerous Precedent for Russia, China

• US operation captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, framed by Trump as reasserting American dominance.
• Analysts warn this action could inadvertently set a dangerous precedent for Russia and China to use force in their spheres of influence.
• Fiona Hill notes the US weakens its moral authority to criticize similar actions by rivals like China in Taiwan or Russia in Eastern Europe.
• Russia and China condemned the US move but showed restraint, possibly seeking strategic benefits or avoiding antagonizing Trump.
• The "might-makes-right" approach risks legitimizing similar claims by rivals, turning a show of strength into a justification for their future actions.

Why It Matters: Trump's Venezuela action risks legitimizing rivals' use of force, weakening US moral authority.