The Capture of Venezuela’s President, Greenland Security and Airstrikes against Iran: A New World Order?

On 3 January 2026, the United States deployed military strikes in Venezuela and kidnapped President Nicolás Maduro Moros and his wife to sit trial in New York for drugs charges constituting a threat to American national security. If the socialist government is replaced, there is potential to reap tantamount oil supply if the deteriorated energy sector is revived. Regime changes to suit American interests were debatably evident in Iraq and Libya that has resulted in stark opposition to respect the rule of non-intervention. Fighting terrorism since the 9/11 attacks has also been part of America’s national interests. Moreover, the Trump administration has declared that Greenland should be part of America that has been disputed by Denmark and European allies. The liberal international order is under threat with international force from powerful states replacing international law. This is evident with America in Venezuela, Russia with Ukraine, China with Taiwan, and America-Israel with Iran. These contexts have circumvented authorisation from the United Nations Security Council. The Security Council is the highest legitimate authority to apply sanctions and contentiously respect self-defence of states and/or entities sponsored by states seriously threatening or encroaching international security. The regimes of multilateral institutions still matter in a realist international political system.