Stretching Self-Defence, Discarding Immunity: The Maduro Capture and the Future of International Law

type

Essay

source publication

ANZSIL Perspective

Abstract

On 4 January 2026, the United States of America (USA) carried out coordinated aerial strikes in Caracas, Miranda, La Guaira, and Aragua in Venezuela accompanied by covert operations by special forces on the ground. The operation culminated in the capture of Venezuela’s sitting President, Nicholas Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores, who were taken to the USA to face criminal charges. This operation is not merely about drug trafficking or the legitimacy of the present government. It is a test case for the resilience of the international legal order in an era where powerful states increasingly assert their right to act unilaterally, redefining legality through force rather than law.

Year

2026

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