The Venezuela Incident and a New Turn in Global Security -

By: Shams-ul-Haq
Describing the alleged “arrest” by the United States of the head of state of Venezuela—an independent, oil-rich country in Latin America—and his spouse as merely a security incident would be to view the facts through a narrow lens. In reality, this event marks the practical beginning of a transitional phase in the global security system—an era in which power appears to be superseding law, diplomacy is receding into the background, and military capability is gaining precedence over regulatory frameworks.
The international system now stands at the threshold of a new and confrontational paradigm. Although it may be premature to label it a global war, all the fundamental elements of organized confrontation that can serve as a prelude to a major conflict are clearly present. This shift in the balance of power indicates that global politics has entered a stage where decisions are being made more on the basis of practical force than on legal principles.
In this changing environment, legal frameworks alone seem incapable of guaranteeing the security of states. Survival and effective deterrence now appear possible only for those states that possess credible and robust military capabilities. The Venezuela incident signals a clear and decisive shift in the international security system and the global order.
This episode also exposes the bitter reality that the use of hard power is increasingly taking center stage in place of legal and diplomatic means for resolving strategic disputes. As a result of this trend, the freedom, internal sovereignty and supreme authority of countries around the world may face serious threats. The alarming aspect is that all these actions have been carried out without the approval or mandate of the United Nations, and in deviation from international law.
Even more disheartening is the apparent indifference shown by major global powers, including China and Russia, regarding this matter. It was expected that the international community would respond clearly and collectively to this incident, but its silence has further highlighted the weakness of international law and the dominance of power politics.
The Venezuela incident is not merely the problem of a single country, it may become a defining moment in shaping the contours of global politics in the times ahead—a moment in which the world will have to decide whether it wishes to return to the rule of law or is prepared to accept the ruthless principle of power.