America is back baby!

And what better way to prove it than by sailing over a few countries and arresting a foreign President and his wife for holding illegal firearms and running a drug cartel - aka, residing in the self-declared American sphere of influence and being a little too slow to hand over Venezuelan oil reserves.

Nicolas Maduro's reign has come to an end.

Might is right, colonialism is on the menu and the US empire is supreme.

But is any of this new?

What of the 'international rules-based order'?

Responding to patron request, Chris provides his read on the situation and likely consequences of this latest round of great power flexing.

2026 is off to a roaring start and, for better or worse, it's not likely to settle down much from here.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction to the Venezuelan Situation

02:24 The Capture of Maduro: A Dramatic Operation

04:39 Historical Context and American Interventions

07:35 The Hypocrisy of International Law

10:40 The Role of Oil in Geopolitics

12:32 The Decline of American Hegemony

15:55 The Future of International Relations

20:05 Volatility and Unpredictability in Global Affairs

23:58 Conclusion and Reflections on the Future

25:19 Thanks Patrons!