By dropping any pretense of defending democracy or human rights through its intervention in Venezuela, the Trump administration has ripped off the mask and shown the US-led global order to be untenable. To rebuild the idea of rules-based international relations, we will need a new philosophical foundation.
BOSTON – The Trump administration’s capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro marks a watershed for international law and the global order. Of course, this isn’t the first time that the United States has intervened in another country’s internal affairs. Such moves were not uncommon during the Cold War. Even as that era was nearing its end, in December 1989, the US toppled Panama’s de facto ruler, Manuel Noriega, who was also charged with drug trafficking.
Below is a summary but you can read the full article here.
Summary:
Daron Acemoglu’s “What Now for the ‘Rules‑Based Order’?” argues that Trump’s capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro marks a watershed moment that undermines the postwar liberal international order and signals the need to rebuild global governance from the ground up.[1][2]
- The U.S. military operation to seize Maduro violates international law and norms of sovereignty, but Acemoglu observes that it exposes the fragility of the “rules‑based order” (RBO), which has always been more rhetoric than binding restraint.[2][1]
- Trump’s action reflects a shift to unilateral force, revisionism, and security dominance in the Western Hemisphere, eroding the postwar system that relied on U.S. leadership to uphold treaties, multilateral institutions, and non‑aggression principles.[1]
Implications for the Global Order
- Collapse of Norms: Maduro’s arrest without Security Council authorization or Venezuelan consent contravenes the UN Charter, setting a precedent for powerful states to ignore sovereignty when convenient.[3][1]
- End of Liberal Hegemony: The RBO was underwritten by American power but constrained by democratic checks and multilateral commitments; Trump’s “Donroe Doctrine” (a play on Monroe Doctrine) prioritizes U.S. interests, resource control (Venezuelan oil), and spheres of influence over universal rules.[4]
- Geopolitical Realignment: Actions like this embolden authoritarian states (Russia, China) to act boldly, while middle powers and allies must now hedge or build alternative frameworks.[5][6]
- Acemoglu insists the old RBO cannot be restored because it was tied to U.S. exceptionalism and Cold War structures; instead, a new order must emerge based on:
- Multipolar cooperation among democracies, middle powers, and reformed institutions.
- Geoeconomic focus: Aligning trade, technology (AI, chips), and energy security without hegemonic dominance.
- Democratic renewal: Strengthening domestic institutions to support credible external commitments.[1]
- The U.S. now pursues transactional diplomacy—exchanging resources for security (e.g., Venezuelan oil for influence)—which risks instability but may force Europe and Asia to step up on global public goods.[4][1]
- Acemoglu warns that without a rebuilt order, the world faces militarization, proliferation, and spheres of influence dominated by force rather than law.[6][3]
In conclusion, Maduro’s capture is a “clear violation” that signals the RBO’s end, urging a new paradigm of pragmatic, multipolar governance to prevent chaos.[3][2][1]
- https://www.linkedin.com/posts/project-syndicate_what-now-for-the-rules-based-order-activity-7415497606778556416-xWD2
- https://x.com/DAcemogluMIT?lang=en
- https://guardian.ng/news/world/us/how-u-s-venezuela-crisis-undermines-rules-based-order/
- https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/09/politics/trump-ice-shooting-venezuela-greenland-analysis
- https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2026/01/06/after-us-move-on-venezuela-analysts-see-rules-based-order-at-risk/
- https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/observers-collapse
- https://x.com/hsncml/status/2009933033646756119
- https://theconversation.com/trumps-new-world-order-is-taking-shape-in-venezuela-five-keys-to-understanding-the-us-military-attacks-272673
- https://www.facebook.com/mohamedtaly.jalloh/posts/the-actions-of-the-united-states-toward-venezuela-is-a-clear-violation-of-intern/2887136468157142/
- Hoover-Why-Trade-Should-be-Free.pdf
- Rethinking-Civilization.pdf