President Donald Trump's decision to seize Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in a U.S. military operation has set off alarm among security experts and diplomats, who warn the move risks legitimizing the use of raw power in international affairs and could be exploited by Russia to justify its war in Ukraine.
The pre-dawn raid in Caracas, carried out by U.S. forces in early January, resulted in Maduro's capture and rapid transfer to U.S. custody. Within hours, Trump publicly asserted that the United States was now "running" Venezuela, a declaration that prompted emergency discussions at the United Nations and criticism from international legal scholars.
Security analysts say the manner of the operation-conducted without international consultation-may erode norms that have constrained regime-change actions for decades. Professor Anthony Glees, a security expert at the University of Buckingham, warned that the episode sends a dangerous signal to rival powers. "Since Trump now seems to think that might is right, that justifies Putin's foul war of aggression on Ukraine and Xi's vile attempts to bully Taiwan into submission," Glees told the Daily Star.
Glees said the comparison is unavoidable. "Trump's apparent embrace of power politics echoes the same reasoning Putin used before launching Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022," he said, arguing that Moscow could now point to Venezuela as evidence that major powers act unilaterally when it suits their interests.
The fallout has unsettled U.S. allies in Western Europe. Glees described the operation as a stark reminder of shifting transatlantic dynamics. "Trump's Venezuelan coup shows yet again how weak we are in the UK and how much we need strong leadership and strong weapons capability amongst all the European NATO member states," he said. He added that Britain had no prior notice: "We were not told, let alone consulted."
Maduro, 63, had ruled Venezuela since 2013, following the death of Hugo Chávez. His re-elections in 2018 and 2024 were widely disputed, and the U.S. has long described him as the "de facto but illegitimate ruler" of the country. Venezuelan officials said the raid left at least 40 people dead, including civilians and security personnel. After his removal, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as acting president.
Appearing in Manhattan federal court on Jan. 5, 2026, Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty to all charges. "I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man," Maduro told the court, insisting he remained Venezuela's legitimate leader. He also said he had been illegally seized, describing himself as "a prisoner of war."
