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Against the backdrop of the considerable disarray surrounding the US strikes on Venezuela, the seizure of leader Nicolás Maduro, and statements from Trump that the US will “control” the country and “take back the oil”, one thing is clear – they set a profoundly disturbing precedent.

A Dark Legacy and an Unprecedented Move

The United States has a grim history of meddling, military incursions, and control in Latin America, but the recent overnight operation marked its premier large-scale offensive on the continent of South America. “American dominance in the western hemisphere will never be questioned again,” Trump proclaimed.

The choice to militarily strike another state and seize its president – just a short time after he publicly sought an off-ramp – has still wider repercussions. It should alarm us all.

Deep Instability for a Nation in Crisis

Venezuelans have suffered under an oppressive, corrupt, and inept government under Mr Maduro, commonly thought to have rigged the previous presidential vote. They now face profound uncertainty at best. Mr Trump has indicated that the vice president, Delcy Rodríguez would do as the US says, and rejected conservative dissident leader and Nobel prize-winner María Corina Machado as a viable alternative.

However, Ms Rodríguez, now the acting leader, has so far adopted a posture of resistance – and other elements of the headless administration are considerably more radical.

The Superpower as Rogue State

A man who came to office vowing to end foreign wars now says he is “willing to put soldiers into combat”. Renaming the Department of Defense as the Department of War was more than posturing. He fails to perceive the world’s superpower as a global policeman; he is turning it into a renegade nation.

He is convinced that the US’s might permits it to do as it wishes with little consequence: consider the military actions against Nigeria and Iranian installations. He asserts that the oil resources of Venezuela means this latest episode “will pay for itself”.

An Illegal Assault on Sovereignty

George W. Bush launched the invasion of Iraq on a lie. But this action without legal basis came absent any United Nations mandate or congressional approval; key legislators received no advance notice and say they were deliberately deceived in briefings. Mr Trump doesn’t seek to bend international norms, but to destroy them.

Disregard the message this sends to Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping and others, and ask where the US itself is heading. While the raid reportedly killed 40 Venezuelans, including civilians, no US personnel died. Mr Trump’s increasing belief in his impunity will surely embolden more reckless actions.

The Stated Reason Versus the Real Aims

It is widely rejected the excuse that this is about drugs. Venezuela is only a secondary pathway for cocaine; Mr Trump recently granted clemency to the former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández for narcotics and arms offenses. Mr Trump himself has been explicit that he is driven by the allure of petroleum resources as well as machismo, the ideology of some in his administration, and the quest for a legacy as his standing with the American public falters.

Tepid International Response and Waning Global Governance

The international response, especially in Europe, has – with honourable exceptions – been alarmingly quiet. That’s not because of Mr Maduro’s sins, but trepidation regarding Mr Trump’s wrath. The firm response from UN Secretary General António Guterres was commendable, but this episode emphasizes the institution’s growing irrelevance.

Mr Trump’s voters who oppose foreign entanglements could potentially force him to redirect his gaze inward – but soaring healthcare premiums, economic unhappiness and distracting files increase his appetite for distraction.

Barely 12 months into his presidential term. World leaders may live to repent if they fail to speak up today, with the question of which nation is next looming.