INTERNATIONAL LAW and THE VENEZUELAN CONFLICT IN SOUTH AMERICA: Analysis of Power Diplomacy

The book examined the role of international law in the Venezuelan conflict in South America with emphasis on the role of Power and Diplomacy in shaping the outcome of the crisis in Venezuela. It was noted that the unprecedented U.S. military operation in January 2026, which resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and assertion of governance over Venezuela, has elicited widespread international condemnation and raised critical questions about the future of the post-1945 international order. The study concluded that The U.S. military operation in Venezuela represents a watershed moment in the post-1945 international order. The operation violates the UN Charter's fundamental prohibition on the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of sovereign states. It was recommended that there is need for greater condemnation of the operation by the international community. Although international organizations have condemned the operation, these responses have thus far been insufficient to establish meaningful consequences or to modify U.S. behavior.