2026 begins with an increasingly autocratic United States rising on the global stage

The US attack on Venezuela highlights a shifting American foreign policy that dismisses a rules-based global order and focuses on economic interests and military might.

By: Shelley Inglis, Rutgers University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: January 6, 2026

Words: 1,353

Last Updated: 3 days, 10 hours ago

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By Shelley Inglis, Rutgers University

The U.S. military operation in Venezuela and capture of President Nicolás Maduro on Jan. 3, 2026, topped off months of military buildup and targeted strikes in the Caribbean Sea. It fulfills President Donald Trump’s claim to assert authoritative control over the Western Hemisphere, articulated in his administration’s 2025 National Security Strategy.

Some national security experts say U.S. military action in Venezuela – taken without U.S. congressional approval …

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