Under international law, all nations own the natural resources found within their borders. Not just rich nations, not just powerful ones; all nations possess the inherent right to consume, extract, preserve or even waste their own natural resources according to their own self-determined needs. This basic premise, a foundational pillar of global stability, is reinforced throughout the United Nations Charter supporting state sovereignty and self-determination in Articles 1 and 55, and is spelled out in the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States granting every State “full permanent sovereignty … over all its wealth, natural resources and economic activities.”Under Article 2(4) of the UN charter, a nation cannot use force on the sovereign territory of another country without its consent, or without the authorization of the UN Security Council, unless the use of force is in self-defense. Following the horrors of the trenches, Hitler, and 90 million deaths in two world wars, the UN Charter was designed to stop nations from doing exactly what Trump just did in Venezuela. On Jan. 3, under Trump’s direction and without congressional authority, U.S. forces captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in a nighttime raid, all while U.S. forces continued seizing Venezuela’s oil and struck military bases, killing at least 80 people who posed no prior threat to the U.S. Overnight, the international order of sovereignty and the rule of law marched backward into Trump’s Neanderthal world of brute force, while Big Oil-aligned Fox News cheered.Dispensing with democracy to serve the oil industryMaduro ruled through repression, corruption, media control, and singular brutality. Human Rights Watch reported that Maduro’s regime had systematically “killed, tortured, detained, and forcefully disappeared people” for the crime of seeking democratic change. Although, like Trump, Maduro still had the support of 30 percent of his citizens, he will not be missed.Yet despite toppling him, Trump left Maduro’s brutality machine in place, grievously disappointing Venezuelans who danced in the streets. Trump told reporters Maduro’s own Vice President, Delcy Rodríguez, would remain in power, but only so long as she “does what we want,” to which Ms. Rodríguez responded, “What is being done to Venezuela is a barbarity” — before later softening her tone. Trump apparently chose Rodríguez for her management expertise in the Venezuelan oil industry as well as Venezuela’s murderous intelligence apparatus. She also enjoys strong ties with U.S. Republicans in the oil industry. After tapping Rodríguez, Trump threatened her, saying, “If she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro.”A petty man gets his petty revengeFollowing the attack, Trump announced that the U.S. would “run” Venezuela with oil-wealth aspirations more conceptual than concrete. Like his oft-alluded to “concept of a plan” for health care that has still not materialized, Trump said he would provide the “vision for how Venezuela should be run,” and commanded his hand-picked leader to carry out his vision under threat of force. In Rodríguez, Trump named a leader of the same government he just labeled illegitimate, while dismissing political heir apparent María Corina Machado. Machado, a national political hero, won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for leading Venezuela’s struggle for democracy in the face of Maduro’s cruel and ever-expanding authoritarianism. After Maduro “banned” her candidacy, her political movement still defeated him in the 2024 presidential election by a 37-point margin. Despite her electoral victory, chops, and 65 percent support among Venezuelans, Trump claims Machado “lacks the respect” needed to run Venezuela. Inside sources say Machado offended Trump’s ego when she accepted the Nobel Peace Prize he covets. Put a pin in the absurdity of a peace prize for a man who deploys the military against his own country, murders people in fishing boats, and now threatens violent expansion against peaceful neighbors.All for the love of oilVenezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world, to which an unscrupulous and dangerous U.S. president has now laid claim, on behalf of private oil investors. It is also being led by a close ally of Maduro hand-picked by Trump, who apparently intends to be puppet master and intervenor to an already corrupt and brutal regime. Trump told reporters administration officials would designate “various people” to “run” Venezuela, “and we’re gonna let you know who those people are,” but the lack of detail has led many to question why there was no detailed plan in place before Maduro was toppled. It’s like Trump wrecking healthcare for 20 million Americans without first putting an alternative in place, and will similarly lead to loss of life.Even though Maduro will not be missed, the end cannot justify the means where the end includes regional instability, economic collapse, and losses still unknowable. As Trump flirts with boots on the ground in Venezuela, licking his Cro-Magnon lips at the taste of raw brute power, he has begun threatening Cuba, Colombia, and Greenland in earnest.“Just war’” theory, on which the post-World War II democratic world order is built, depends on and expects restraint from the powerful. Trump has again acted without restraint, without congressional authority, and without the concept of a plan for what comes next. By eschewing any notion of restoring democracy to the Venezuelan people, Trump has revealed his imperialist Big Oil mission as unadorned thuggery.Sabrina Haake is a columnist and 25+ year federal trial attorney specializing in 1st and 14th A defense. Her Substack, The Haake Take, is free.
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