The military operation that started on the night of January 3 in Venezuela turned into an international crisis with the apprehension of the country's leader Maduro by the USA. Analyzing the events and the US's new world order strategy, Political Scientist Prof. Dr. Deniz Ülke Kaynak said, “We are at a new moment in history of 'liberation (!) by the hand of the USA'.”
Stating that Trump wants to establish a system of loyalty and obedience not only on the American continent but worldwide, Prof. Dr. Kaynak said, “They have plunged everything into chaos with their trigger-man Israel. Russia is already part of this global mafia-like game. We will see together how China will join the game, and what kind of world the 'Dons' order will build.”
Üsküdar University Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Dean Prof. Dr. Deniz Ülke Kaynak evaluated the operation in which the US announced it had hit civilian-military targets and removed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores from the country, and US President Trump confirmed the decision to prosecute them on “narco-terrorism” charges.
Is Nicholas Maduro the last victim?
Starting her analysis by asking “Is Venezuela the beginning or the end?”, Prof. Dr. Kaynak said, “We are at a new moment in history of 'liberation (!) by the hand of the USA'. As it seems, another one of the great devils has been neutralized. Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro, taken from his bed in a flawless operation that instilled fear in the enemies of American military and intelligence power, is currently the latest victim. The image of him served to the world media, dressed in a tracksuit with his hands cuffed, is heartbreaking. Undoubtedly, there has always been a controversial opinion in international public opinion regarding Maduro's authoritarianism, mismanagement, involvement in drug trafficking, or legitimacy. However, it is also a fact that his firm stance against US pressure has evoked a certain sympathy in global public opinion.”
The apprehension of the Venezuelan president through military intervention by an external power
Prof. Dr. Kaynak pointed out that although the apprehension of the Venezuelan president in his own home through military intervention by an external power was criticized by the public, it was not overlooked that states merely reacted with “we are concerned,” “we are watching with anxiety,” “we condemn.” She stated, “It is not surprising for people to turn to lesser evils against a greater evil, meaning the better of the bad; but what about states? Why are they in a relatively silent wait? What happened to diplomacy? Where are international institutions, law, norms, global ethics? Isaiah Berlin, in stating that ‘our choices are not between good and evil, but between evil and a lesser evil,’ implies that concepts of freedom or morality gain meaning not as abstract ideals but within concrete threats and necessities. Therefore, political actors tend to choose not what is right, but what is less destructive. In short, political choices do not seek what is correct; rather, a less damaging, safer, and lower-cost option is found and configured as ‘right’.”
Political actors are obliged to make rational calculations
Prof. Dr. Kaynak noted that the dynamics of the international relations system are mostly shaped this way. “While people are guided by emotions, political actors are obliged to make rational calculations. Considering the historical memory of coups, CIA operations, puppet regimes, kidnappings, executions, and potential economic devastations, the inaction of states, especially those without the capacity for retaliation, can be understood more easily. Furthermore, if you are facing a political mentality that can act without rules and behave unconventionally, an analytical approach gains more importance than reactivity.”
From Bolívar to Maduro…
Recalling that Simón Bolívar, the great hero and liberator leader of not only Venezuela but all of Latin American history, wrote in a letter to British diplomat Patrick Campbell in 1829, “The United States seems destined by Providence to plague America with miseries in the name of freedom,” Prof. Dr. Kaynak continued:
“Bolívar had fought a great struggle to keep the people of ‘Gran Colombia,’ which emerged victorious from the war against Spanish colonialism, united as a whole, but he was among the losers. He described his life, which ended as a tired and sick man, by saying ‘I feel as if I have plowed the sea’ (he arado en el mar). Today, positive and negative feelings towards the USA coexist throughout this geography, where different states such as Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama are located. The Trump administration, referencing the year 1823, is reasserting its claims over a wide strip extending from Venezuela to Panama within the framework of the re-shaped Monroe Doctrine. In the years when the Monroe Doctrine was declared, even though the US was still a young state, it was understood to be inclined towards expansion. They treated the entire American continent as a whole, openly claiming Latin America, which they considered their backyard. The phrase 'Western Hemisphere' included in Trump's national security strategy since 2017 is a reflection of the Monroe spirit; but not an exact replica.”
The road from Monroe to Donroe
Prof. Dr. Deniz Ülke Kaynak explained that Trump's demands extending to the northern route via Canada and Greenland and to the Arctic region, are reflected as immense pressure on the entire Caribbean Sea to the south, including all of Central America, Cuba, and Mexico, and stated:
“The border policy, shaped through walls and strict immigration policies against arrivals from those countries, keeps the US's entry gate to those countries open. Since the uninvited guest's demand is to own the house itself, it is also supported by military means. The Trump administration views the entire American basin as an inseparable whole in terms of security, trade, and sea lanes. Therefore, the Panama Canal, the maritime passages in the Caribbean, and the Gulf of Mexico have been identified as vital areas of interest. The deep entry of China and Russia into the region, especially since the Obama era, is a great betrayal for them. They believe a rapid cleanup is necessary. Some call this new approach 'Donroe.' This concept, defined as Donald's doctrine, also carries another meaning, in my opinion. As is known, the term 'Don' is used for mafia bosses. Trump is not bothered by being called Don; in fact, he loves it!”
Will China join the game?
Prof. Dr. Kaynak also stated that some changes in the transition from Monroe to Donroe constitute the nuances of the general strategy. “Monroe was against Europe; Donroe targets China and Russia. Monroe was defensive; Donroe is aggressive. Monroe saw the American basin as a sphere of influence; Donroe says the ownership of resources should belong to me, I will manage those areas. It is evident that Trump wants to establish a system of loyalty and obedience not only on the American continent but worldwide. They have plunged everything into chaos with their trigger-man Israel. Russia is already part of this global mafia-like game. We will see together how China will join the game, and what kind of world the 'Dons' order will build.”