The Maduro Capture: When Power Precedes Law
Analysis How The Capture of Nicolas Maduro will have an impact on global order
Jaalle J.Rage Ali
1/8/20262 min read
The reported capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by the United States marks a new era in how great powers use military and intelligence power to achieve their political goals. This is not just a military operation, but a strategic message to vulnerable states, those resisting US pressure, and the international system as a whole.
The operation, as analyzed, relied heavily on CIA intelligence, demonstrating that modern wars are not won with weapons alone, but with the development of information, understanding, and the disruption of the enemy's internal systems. When intelligence penetrates deeply into government institutions, the apparent power of the military becomes less valuable. Venezuela, like many authoritarian regimes, has appeared strong on the outside but is internally weak.
Another important point is that senior officials in the Maduro administration have been bribed or intimidated. This points to a fundamental problem in the system: a lack of trust. Any government whose leaders are divided by vested interests, fear or money loses its ability to defend itself. Maduro’s capture, if that is the case, would prove that the system had already collapsed before a shot was fired.
It was also reported that the operation was carried out without encountering any expected obstacles, which calls into question Venezuela’s level of preparedness and defense capabilities. A government that claims to be deterring foreign intervention but is unable to respond to a limited operation targeting its supreme leader shows a huge difference between rhetoric and actual power.
The most controversial issue is the use of “absolute power” — absolute power that is not bound by any law or regulation. The United States, by taking such a step, has clearly demonstrated that when its strategic interests are at stake, international law can be circumvented. This is a threat to the world order, as it could encourage any other great power to follow suit.
In terms of military power, Venezuela has been widely described as a country armed like the governments of the 1970s to 2000s, unable to keep up with modern technology. A country that lacks a modern system to control its airspace, and that does not have effective defenses against 4th and 5th generation fighter jets, is opening its airspace to the enemy. Today’s wars are not won by numbers, but by information, communications, and air control and dominance.
In conclusion, Maduro’s capture is an event that reflects a major shift in the politics of the great powers. It shows that a government that has not modernized its security system, has not built internal trust, and has not improved its defenses can easily become a target. At the same time, it reminds the world of a serious question: Will law or the might of the strongest rule the world?
