“MVGA”

On January 3, 2026, the United States launched a raid into Caracas, Venezuela. During this mission, President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were apprehended. Despite tensions rising over the course of months, this was still a rather unexpected event. Operationally, the mission went off without a hitch from the perspective of U.S. forces. Operators from Special Forces Operational Detachment–Delta executed a ground assault on Maduro’s compound, where FBI agents took him into custody. A helicopter took minor fire that did not prohibit flight, and no U.S. casualties were recorded. From an operational standpoint, there are no complaints to be had. However, the motivations behind the raid are questionable.

In 2020, Maduro was officially indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice and was thus deemed a criminal in the eyes of the U.S. judicial system. The charges labeled him a narco-terrorist. Maduro’s removal has allowed the United States access to one of the world's largest oil reserves. The U.S. is set to receive half a million barrels of oil a day, and the operation also threatens oil imports from Venezuela to China. The legality of the operation is in question. While it is largely agreed that the operation violates international law, it exists in a gray area under U.S. law. Based on precedent set during the 1989 capture of Panamanian dictator Ferdinand Marcos, courts will likely defer decision-making authority to the executive branch.

A particularly dangerous aspect of this raid is the U.S. assertion of global law enforcement authority. While the buildup was highly publicized, the raid itself still came unexpectedly. This raises a broader question: when does a situation require U.S. intervention? Across the world, there are countless streams of illegal activity that interfere with American interests. How do we determine which causes are worthy of intervention? After spending decades engaged in foreign wars in the Middle East and Central Asia, it is crucial that we define our role in global enforcement.

The United States has committed to aiding the Venezuelan government in “making Venezuela great again,” but what will happen in ten years? After spending twenty years in Afghanistan, the Taliban regained control almost immediately following the withdrawal of U.S. armed forces. If the goal is nation-building, it will require a vastly different approach. It would be a significant financial undertaking and carries the risk of a similar outcome. While I maintain that the United States must stand as a positive force for humanitarian aid and support those in need, I remain uncertain about this operation. The motivations and legality present difficult obstacles to overcome. Additionally, I am not convinced it was the place of the United States to capture a world leader, illegitimate or otherwise. Time will tell whether this was the correct course of action and what repercussions will follow.