Opinion | US precedent in Venezuela raises Asia’s fears of ‘rule of jungle’

America’s capture of Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro in a special operation sent shock waves across the world. With characteristically bombastic rhetoric, US President Donald Trump hailed Operation Absolute Resolve as “an assault like people have not seen since World War II” and “one of the most stunning, effective and powerful displays of American military might” in history.

His deputies were quick to add that the operation also showed the long arm of the US justice system by accusing Maduro of involvement in drug trafficking, aside from the systematic oppression of democratic forces. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio even painted the event as a liberation of Venezuela from Cuban intelligence forces, who were heavily embedded in the Maduro regime.

The response from much of the world, however, was muted, if not critical. Beijing, Tehran and Moscow predictably condemned the abduction, but so did key US allies who have been critical of the Maduro regime.

“These actions constitute a dangerous precedent for peace, regional security and pose a risk to the civil population,” said Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and four other key Latin American leaders in a joint statement. “We reiterate that the situation in Venezuela must be resolved exclusively through dialogue […] without interference and adhering to international law.”

European leaders from Paris to London also emphasised the importance of international law, a subtle criticism. Crucially, even frontline US allies such as the Philippines struck a critical note. Manila’s statement stressed “the relevant principles of international law, including the independence and sovereign equality of states … and non-interference in the domestic affairs of sovereign states”.

While wary of alienating Washington, middle powers are deeply worried about the dangerous precedent and, more broadly, the collapse of long-time efforts to create a rules-based international order. As this year’s chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Philippines has a special responsibility to coordinate a diplomatic response to strengthen the foundations of a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific.