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How not to get ‘captured’ in Trump’s TV show foreign policy

The capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and the theatrical use of force offer lessons on surviving US foreign policy in the near term.

Venezuela, unfortunately, was the ideal punching bag

Captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro arriving at the Downtown Manhattan Heliport in New York City on Jan 5.

PHOTO: REUTERS

Cory Alpert

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After months of rising tension, including

a massing of military strength in the Caribbean

, the US conflict with Venezuela has reached a boiling point. In a scenario unthinkable in earlier eras of American foreign policy, just after the world chimed in a new year, the US military, acting on the orders of President Donald Trump,

seized Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro

in a targeted overnight raid.

Mr Trump proudly announced that Maduro had been “captured” and posted a picture of him blindfolded, handcuffed and in the custody of US officers. Overnight, Maduro was brought to New York to face drug trafficking and terrorism charges. The entire episode is bewildering. Imagine the reaction if the roles were reversed – had Venezuelan commandos come into the United States and captured Mr Trump and brought him to Caracas to face charges.

How not to get ‘captured’ in Trump’s TV show foreign policy

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