KOTA KINABALU: The US military operation that led to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro reflects Washington’s determination to preserve its strategic dominance in the Western Hemisphere rather than any moral or humanitarian imperative, according to an international relations analyst.
Universiti Malaysia Sabah lecturer Mohd Ezni Hezri Mohd Yusop said the launch of Operation Absolute Resolve shows the United States has shifted decisively towards a realist approach in confronting challenges to its influence, particularly from China and Russia.
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“In a multipolar world, moral considerations are no longer central. What matters is the survival of hegemony, especially when a country with the world’s largest oil reserves risks falling under the influence of rival great powers,” he said.
He argued that the scale of the operation, involving more than 150 military aircraft and the swift removal of Maduro to face charges in New York, signals a broader strategy to reassert US control over Latin America’s political and security order.
According to him, the move also points to a revival of the Monroe Doctrine, with Washington intent on preventing external powers from gaining a foothold in the region. However, he cautioned that regime change does not guarantee stability.
“The fall of one leader does not automatically resolve deep-rooted economic and humanitarian crises. History shows that Latin America often pays a high price when it becomes the arena for great power rivalry,” he said.
