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Amid the widespread uncertainty following the United States attacks on Venezuela, the apprehension of leader Nicolás Maduro, and the declaration by Donald Trump that the US will “manage” the country and “take back the oil”, a single fact remains evident – they set a profoundly disturbing precedent.

Past Interference and a New Threshold Crossed

The United States has a grim history of meddling, military incursions, and control in the region, but the early hours of Saturday saw its premier large-scale offensive on the continent of South America. “American dominance in the western hemisphere will never be questioned again,” the President stated.

The choice to militarily strike another independent nation and capture its head of state – mere days after he openly looked for a diplomatic solution – possesses far-reaching consequences. It should alarm us all.

A Nation Left in Limbo

Venezuelans have lived through a dictatorship marked by theft and failure under Mr Maduro, largely considered to have stolen the last election. They now face a future of deep insecurity. Mr Trump has remarked that Mr Maduro’s deputy, Delcy Rodríguez would do as the US says, and brushed aside conservative dissident leader and Nobel prize-winner María Corina Machado as a plausible replacement.

However, Ms Rodríguez, now the interim president, has so far sounded notes of defiance – and other factions of the headless administration are considerably more radical.

A Shift in Global Role

A man who was elected pledging to stop foreign wars now says he is “unconcerned about deploying troops”. Renaming the Department of Defense as the Department of War was more than posturing. He does not see the world’s superpower as a international peacekeeper; he is converting it into a lawless actor.

He believes that the United States' strength enables it to do as it wishes with minimal cost: observe the strikes on Nigeria, on Iran’s nuclear facilities. He asserts that Venezuelan oil means this new undertaking “will pay for itself”.

A Move Devoid of International Legitimacy

George W. Bush launched the invasion of Iraq on a lie. But this unlawful assault came without UN resolutions of any kind or authorization from lawmakers; the opposition party was kept in the dark and say they were given false information in briefings. Mr Trump aims not merely to stretch international norms, but to obliterate them.

Put aside the message this sends to global powers like Russia and China, and question the future path of the United States. While the raid allegedly resulted in the deaths of 40 Venezuelans, including civilians, there were no American fatalities. Mr Trump’s escalating feeling of being untouchable will likely encourage additional military gambits.

The Stated Reason Versus the Real Aims

No one buys the pretext that this is related to the drug trade. Venezuela is only a minor conduit for cocaine; Mr Trump recently exonerated the former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández for drugs and weapons crimes. Mr Trump himself has stated plainly that he is driven by the allure of petroleum resources as well as a desire to project strength, the ideology of some in his administration, and the quest for a legacy as his standing with the American public falters.

World Leaders' Silence and a Weakened UN

The international response, especially in Europe, has – with notable outliers – been alarmingly quiet. That’s not due to Mr Maduro’s sins, but anxiety over Mr Trump’s wrath. The strong reaction from UN Secretary General António Guterres was notable, but this episode emphasizes the UN's diminishing clout.

Mr Trump’s voters who oppose foreign entanglements could potentially force him to redirect his gaze inward – but soaring healthcare premiums, economic unhappiness and other domestic scandals fuel his desire for external drama.

We are not yet 12 months into his time in office. World leaders may regret it if they stay silent now, with the question of which nation is next looming.