The spectacle of a US President monitoring a military raid on a sovereign nation from his Florida mansion, then declaring ownership of that nation's oil, marks a terrifying pivot in global geopolitics. As Jeremy Bowen analyzes, Donald Trump isn't just conducting foreign policy; he is resurrecting the age of empires.

The seizure of Nicolás Maduro and the subsequent installation of a compliant regime in Caracas is the most brazen act of American interventionism since the invasion of Iraq. But unlike 2003, there is no pretense of "Weapons of Mass Destruction" or democracy building. The motive is raw, transactional, and proudly imperial: "We are going to take the oil," Trump told the press, stripping away the veneer of diplomatic niceties.

The Sugar Rush of Conquest

Trump’s description of the raid as "amazing work" reveals a leader high on the sugar rush of a quick tactical victory. By removing a troublesome leader without losing a single American soldier, he has validated a dangerous doctrine: that might makes right.

• The Message to Africa: For nations like Kenya, which navigate the delicate balance between Western and Eastern powers, the message is chilling. Sovereignty is now conditional on American interests. If the US can decapitate the government of a resource-rich nation in its own hemisphere, what protects smaller nations elsewhere?
• The Oil Factor: The naked ambition to control Venezuela’s 300 billion barrels of reserves suggests a return to the resource wars of the 19th century. It challenges the post-WWII order where territorial integrity was, at least in theory, sacrosanct.
• Diplomatic Silence: The muted response from European allies—caught between horror and the need for cheap oil—exposes the frailty of the "rules-based international order."

A Dangerous Precedent

The "quick win" in Caracas ignores the complexity of governing a fractured nation of 30 million people. Empires are easy to build but impossible to maintain. As Trump celebrates, the world edges closer to a chaotic era where borders are mere suggestions and resources belong to the strongest.