Global Hotspots: U.S.-Venezuela Intervention and Worldwide Ripple Effects

This week, the United States conducted a major military operation against Venezuela resulting in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, with implications throughout the Americas and globally. In the Middle East, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to intervene militarily in Iran as the country faces large-scale anti-government protests, while Saudi Arabia conducted strikes against UAE-backed forces in Yemen. In the Indo-Pacific, China banned all dual-use exports to Japanese military companies, while Chinese President Xi Jinping met with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, signaling increased cooperation. In the Russia/Ukraine conflict, the U.S. backed a security guarantees proposal for a Ukraine ceasefire, and Trump approved a bipartisan congressional sanctions package against Russia’s energy sector.