Published 9 Jan 2026

Authors: Hoang Thi Ha|Aries A. Arugay

What can Southeast Asia learn from the US' recent actions in Venezuela?

The US military operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and bring him to face criminal charges in America fundamentally assaults the principle of national sovereignty, signalling a world sliding towards the law of the jungle. For Southeast Asia, this episode prompts reflection on possible parallels, such as whether this might be the catalyst for China to assert its own sphere of influence, the new logic driving such US interventionism, and the US’ conflation of law enforcement with extra‑territorial use of force, while recognising that any comparisons would be conditioned by distinct regional contexts.

For full article, please open the link:

https://fulcrum.sg/implications-of-the-venezuela-case-for-southeast-asia-parallels-and-limits/

The article was published by ISEAS.

IRSEA and ISEAS have agreed to enter into a relationship of cooperation.

The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the official policy, position or view of IRSEA