Scholars view the 2026 US strikes on Venezuela as a revival of interventionism, blending resource security with anti-narcoterrorism rhetoric, while exposing tensions in the post-Cold War liberal order.This event tests Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, with experts like those at EJIL arguing it erodes anti-aggression norms, paralleling critiques of prior US actions.
Scholarly Analyses
Analysts at CFR and Atlantic Council describe it as "Trumpian realism," prioritizing hemispheric dominance over multilateralism to exclude China and Russia from Venezuelan oil, risking prolonged occupation without viable endgames.Chatham House and CSIS highlight humanitarian fallout, including civilian deaths and refugee surges, questioning self-defense claims under Article 51 amid no imminent threat.Indian scholars note implications for strategic autonomy, as India balances US ties with non-intervention principles amid minimal economic stakes.
Implications for Aspirants
Civil services preparation emphasizes linking this to Monroe Doctrine revival, energy geopolitics, and multipolarity, where US unilateralism weakens UN credibility and bolsters Global South critiques.It underscores hybrid threats like narco-terrorism as intervention pretexts, relevant for GS Paper 2 (IR) and Essay on sovereignty vs. humanitarianism.
Prelims Questions
- Which Article of the UN Charter prohibits the use of force against territorial integrity? (a) Article 2(4) (b) Article 51 (c) Article 39 (d) Article 24
- The 2026 US operation in Venezuela targeted which leader? (a) Nicolás Maduro (b) Juan Guaidó (c) Delcy Rodríguez (d) Hugo Chávez
- Operation Absolute Resolve relates to: (a) US strikes in Yemen (b) Venezuela intervention (c) Taiwan Strait patrols (d) Ukraine aid
Mains Questions
- "The US intervention in Venezuela exemplifies the clash between realist power politics and liberal international norms." Critically analyze in light of recent developments. (15 marks)
- Discuss the implications of the 2026 US-Venezuela strikes for India's strategic autonomy and the rules-based global order. (10 marks)
- Examine how the Monroe Doctrine has evolved in contemporary US foreign policy, with reference to the Venezuela crisis. (15 marks)