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Against the backdrop of the widespread uncertainty surrounding the American military actions on Venezuela, the seizure of leader Nicolás Maduro, and Donald Trump's announcement that the US will “control” the country and “seize control of the oil”, one thing is clear – they set a profoundly disturbing precedent.

Past Interference and a New Threshold Crossed

The United States possesses a dark record of interference, invasion and occupation in Latin America, but this past Saturday morning witnessed its premier large-scale offensive on the soil of a South American nation. “The preeminence of America in this region is now beyond dispute,” the President stated.

The choice to militarily strike another state and abduct its leader – mere days after he stated a desire for negotiations – carries even broader implications. It should alarm us all.

A Nation Left in Limbo

Venezuelans have lived through a dictatorship marked by theft and failure under Mr Maduro, largely considered to have fraudulently won the most recent election. They now face extreme instability in the best case. Mr Trump has remarked that Maduro's second-in-command, Delcy Rodríguez would comply with American demands, and dismissed prominent critic and Nobel prize-winner María Corina Machado as a viable alternative.

However, Ms Rodríguez, now the temporary head of state, has so far struck a defiant tone – and other elements of the leadership-stricken government are far more intransigent.

The Superpower as Rogue State

A man who won power vowing to end foreign wars now says he is “not afraid of boots on the ground”. Rebranding the Department of Defense as the Department of War was a substantive signal. He no longer views the world’s superpower as a global policeman; he is transforming it into a lawless actor.

He is convinced that the United States' strength permits it to do as it wishes with scant penalty: witness the attacks in Nigeria and against Iranian nuclear sites. He asserts that control of Venezuela's petroleum means this latest episode “will pay for itself”.

A Move Devoid of International Legitimacy

George W. Bush invaded Iraq on a lie. But this unlawful assault came lacking any form of UN approval or congressional approval; the opposition party was kept in the dark and say they were actively misled in briefings. Mr Trump is not trying to twist international norms, but to destroy them.

Put aside the implication this carries to global powers like Russia and China, and question the future path of the United States. While the raid allegedly resulted in the deaths of 40 Venezuelans, including civilians, there were no American fatalities. Mr Trump’s growing sense of invincibility will almost certainly fuel more reckless actions.

Flimsy Justifications and Underlying Drivers

Few believe the pretext that this is about drugs. Venezuela is only a small transit route for cocaine; Mr Trump recently pardoned the former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández for drugs and weapons crimes. Mr Trump himself has stated plainly that he is driven by the promise of energy wealth as well as machismo, the worldview of key officials, and the quest for a legacy as domestic popularity wanes.

A Muted Global Reaction and Institutional Irrelevance

The international response, especially in Europe, has – with notable outliers – been alarmingly quiet. That’s not because of Mr Maduro’s sins, but anxiety over Mr Trump’s wrath. The firm response from UN Secretary General António Guterres was commendable, but this episode emphasizes the waning power of international bodies.

Mr Trump’s anti-interventionist domestic base could still pressure him to focus on domestic issues once more – but escalating insurance prices, economic unhappiness and other domestic scandals make foreign conflicts more appealing.

Barely 12 months into his presidential term. World leaders may regret it if they remain quiet at this juncture, considering the potential next target.