A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT
The “president of peace”, as Mr Trump likes to portray himself, and his War Secretary Pete Hegseth were unequivocal about Washington’s determination to reassert absolute dominance in the Western Hemisphere – in word and deed.
It is a return to thinking of the world as spheres of influence, as articulated in the 19th-century Monroe doctrine and in Mr Trump’s new national security strategy released just a few weeks ago.
Unsurprisingly, several countries in the Western Hemisphere, which the US sees as the core of its sphere of influence, denounced the US operation, as did Russia and China.
But it is unlikely that the US will face major repercussions beyond some handwringing about the need to respect international law, even from other democratic countries. This sets a dangerous precedent, as United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres put it.
This will likely further encourage other states with similar pretensions of their own sphere of influence.
Mr Trump has also made no secret about his desire to take over the Panama Canal and Greenland for national security reasons, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio has long taken a hard line on Cuba’s government.
If the strike on Venezuela is considered a success in the White House, there will be anxiety about where American attention will turn next.