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The detention of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by the US military has sent shockwaves across global politics. The incident has raised serious questions about international law, national sovereignty, and the balance between power and justice. Read an exclusive analysis by veteran journalist Manoj Tibrewal Aakash.
New Delhi: An event that has shaken not only Latin America but also global politics, international law, and the balance of power in the world. This is not just another news story. It has divided countries ideologically, disturbed diplomatic relations, and raised a serious question, has power become more important than law in today’s world?
Senior journalist Manoj Tibrewal Aakash explained in his show The MTA Speaks that this case is highly unusual. This is not the arrest of a terrorist or a criminal hiding from the law. It is the claim that the sitting president of a sovereign country, Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro, was detained by the military of another country, the United States.
This has raised many important questions. Why was Nicolás Maduro detained? Who is he, and what are the allegations against him? Why did the US take such a drastic step? And most importantly, how will this incident affect global politics and the future of international relations?
Nicolas Maduro's political journey wasn't typical of an elite leader. He was born into a modest leftist family in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. His father was a trade union leader and was involved in labor movements. In his youth, Maduro worked as a metro bus driver and from there played an active role in Venezuela's labor movement. He became a member of the transport union and gradually moved from union politics to national politics.
Maduro is said to have an emotional connection to India and has described himself as a follower of Sathya Sai Baba. This fact has been mentioned several times in the international media and adds a unique dimension to Maduro's image.
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The year 1992 marked a turning point in Venezuelan politics. When the anti-government movement against President Carlos Andrés Pérez intensified and demands arose for the release of Hugo Chávez from prison, Nicolás Maduro was among the leading figures of this movement. This is where his political rise began. In 1999, he was elected to the Constituent Assembly and played a key role in drafting the new Venezuelan Constitution. He first became a member of the National Assembly in 2000.
Maduro was among Hugo Chávez's most trusted allies. He served as Venezuela's Foreign Minister from 2006 to 2013, during which time he vociferously promoted an anti-American and multipolar world order policy. In 2012, he was appointed Vice President, and when Hugo Chávez was battling cancer, he publicly declared Nicolás Maduro his successor. After Chávez's death in March 2013, Maduro became interim president and then won the election to become full president.
Maduro's rule was mired in controversy from the very beginning. During his tenure, Venezuela faced a severe economic crisis. Despite possessing one of the world's largest oil reserves, inflation soared, the currency devalued, food and medicine shortages worsened, and millions of people were forced to flee the country. The opposition accused Maduro of centralizing power, weakening the electoral process, controlling the media, and serious human rights violations.
Maduro's leadership has also been divisive internationally. The US and European countries declared him an illegitimate president, while countries like Russia, China, Cuba, and Iran legitimately supported his government.
Now let's turn to the development that shocked the world. The US claims that it launched a massive military and legal operation against Nicolás Maduro in early 2026. The US administration says there is substantial evidence of Maduro's decades-long involvement with international drug trafficking networks, providing patronage to violent gangs, and playing a role in the supply of drugs to the US. Based on these allegations, preparations have been made for criminal prosecution against him in the US.
The US military claimed that Maduro and his wife were detained and brought to the US as part of a special military operation. The entire operation was reportedly being monitored from the Mar-a-Lago Club in Florida, where Donald Trump was present and watching the events live.
The US maintains that this action was necessary to bring criminals to justice within the legal framework and was intended to dismantle the drug network in Venezuela. But this is where the international controversy begins.
International law experts are questioning whether the sitting president of a sovereign country can be detained using military force without the authorization of the United Nations Security Council. Many experts consider this a violation of international law, the UN Charter, and the principles of sovereignty. They argue that the investigation and prosecution of criminal charges is governed by an international court or diplomatic process, not military intervention.
The US maintains that it has solid evidence, but until guilt is proven in an international judicial forum, this action remains legally and morally questionable.
This is being considered not just an arrest but also a show of power. The military capture and transport of the president of an independent country to New York is almost unprecedented in modern history. Such precedents have been very limited, and that too without international consent.
Reactions from around the world were swift. Russia called it a direct attack on Venezuela's sovereignty. Spain and several European countries stated that such a move without UN approval undermines the international order. Protests erupted in several Latin American countries. Venezuelan society appeared divided-some saw it as the end of dictatorship, while others saw it as foreign interference and neo-colonialism.
India, adopting a balanced approach, appealed to both countries for restraint and a solution through dialogue.
This entire incident has raised several important questions. Can a country arrest another country's president based solely on allegations? Has power become the new standard of justice? Will this action set a dangerous example for weaker countries in the future?
Economic impacts are also beginning to emerge. Venezuela is an oil-producing country, and this instability is impacting global oil markets. Fluctuations in prices indicate that the impact could be far-reaching.
The political impact of this incident is likely to be long-lasting. Alliances in Latin America may change, and tensions between the US, China, and Russia could rise again. The role of the United Nations and the importance of international law are also back in global focus.
The detention of Nicolás Maduro is not just about one person. It is a test of today’s global order and the balance between power and law. While the US describes it as a fight against drugs and crime, many countries see it as a violation of national sovereignty. Its effects will be felt for years across politics, the global economy, security policies, and the balance of power worldwide.
