(C) The Mirror USA
In the early hours of January 3, 2026, Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, was engulfed by the rotor noise of U.S. special operations helicopters and the flashes of precision strikes. Code-named "Operation Absolute Resolve," the Donald Trump administration defined the head of a sovereign state as a narco-terrorist, executed a blitz capture, and brought him to stand on New York soil. This event is more than a simple regime change operation; it is the flamboyant opening salvo of the "Donroe Doctrine," a 21st-century evolution of the Monroe Doctrine.
Surgical Physical Evisceration: From ‘Maximum Pressure’ to ‘Direct Strike’
While the first Trump administration's Venezuela policy focused on "Maximum Pressure" via economic strangulation, the 2026 operation culminated in the extreme conclusion of "physical removal." Starting with Executive Order 13808 in 2017, financial sanctions and the 2019 recognition of Juan Guaidó as interim president succeeded in cutting off the Maduro regime's foreign currency earnings but failed to sever its lifeline. This was due to "backdoor" support from Russia and China, and the continued cohesion of the Venezuelan military.
"Operation Absolute Resolve" shattered this stalemate in a single stroke. While over 150 advanced aerial assets neutralized Venezuela's air defense network, Delta Force operators, infiltrating via "Night Stalker" helicopters, subdued Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, within 30 minutes. This event served as a visual declaration to the world that the reach of U.S. jurisdiction is identical to the range of its missiles.
The Substance of the ‘Donroe Doctrine’: A Total Cleansing of the Western Hemisphere
The "Donroe Doctrine" championed by Trump is a 2026 variation of the 19th-century Monroe Doctrine. Its core lies in the "Cleansing" of all elements within the Western Hemisphere that oppose U.S. interests.
The Donroe Doctrine goes beyond merely aiding democratization; it aims to build a hemispheric order perfectly aligned with U.S. political, economic, and military interests.
Expulsion of Extra-regional Powers: Military and economic activities by Russia, China, and Iran using Venezuela as a base are deemed "threats to security" and must be eliminated.
Protection of Strategic Asset Ownership: Preventing strategic assets (oil, canals, minerals, etc.) within the hemisphere from falling into hostile foreign hands and securing U.S. control.
Integration with Domestic Issues: Prioritizing the blocking of illegal immigration and drug influx as national security tasks, thereby justifying intervention in neighboring countries to solve these issues.
This policy shift is resulting in the relocation of U.S. military deployments from the Middle East and Europe to the Western Hemisphere. Expanding facilities in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and strengthening access rights with partner nations like El Salvador, Ecuador, and Guyana, are part of the infrastructure build-up to realize the Donroe Doctrine.
Weaponizing Law Enforcement: The ‘Narco-terrorism’ Frame
The legal engine that allowed the U.S. to arrest a sovereign head of state was the charge of "Narco-terrorism." The U.S. Department of Justice downgraded Maduro from a head of state to the leader of the criminal organization "Cartel of the Suns." In particular, designating the Venezuelan criminal organization "Tren de Aragua" as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) in 2025 was a masterstroke. This transformed the military operation against Maduro from an act of war into "law enforcement" against a terrorist. The judicial system became an "operational enabler," providing legitimacy for military action.
'Operation Absolute Resolve': Total Mobilization of Military Precision and National Capacity
The operation on January 3, 2026, was a concentration of America’s overwhelming military technology and intelligence capabilities. The name reflects Washington’s firm intent to end the Maduro regime. More than 150 aircraft, including F-22s, F-35s, and B-1 bombers, were mobilized, launching simultaneously from over 20 bases across the hemisphere to neutralize Venezuelan defenses.
Key Phases and Tactical Characteristics of the Operation:
Intelligence Preparation (Aug–Dec 2025): CIA ground assets infiltrated Venezuela to monitor Maduro’s movements, habits, and security systems. RQ-170 drones mapped air defense and communication networks.
Shaping Operations (Sep–Dec 2025): Strikes on drug vessels tested the Venezuelan military’s response and built a pretext for the operation.
Final Readiness (Late Dec 2025): All military assets were forward-deployed by Christmas, securing airfield access through cooperation with neighboring countries like Trinidad and Tobago.
Execution Phase (Early hours of Jan 3, 2026): While 160th SOAR (Night Stalkers) helicopters infiltrated at low altitudes, electronic warfare and bombing were conducted simultaneously. Delta Force operators entered Maduro’s residence and completed the arrest within 30 minutes.
Immediately after the operation, President Trump released a photo of Maduro handcuffed and blindfolded aboard the USS Iwo Jima, visually demonstrating that U.S. jurisdiction can reach anywhere in the world. This action reflects Trump’s signature "Peace through Strength" philosophy, prioritizing U.S. interests and justice over traditional concepts of sovereignty in international law.
The Spoils of Oil: A Model for ‘Cost-Free Hegemony’
Trump’s true intent lies in the oil reserves of Caracas. The 300 billion barrels of reserves—the world's largest—are not just a resource but a "geopolitical enabler." By stating, "We should have taken the oil," Trump clarified his plan to fund operation and reconstruction costs using Venezuela’s oil revenues.
If giant U.S. oil capital is injected to restore infrastructure and recover production, the U.S. will gain complete control over global energy pricing. This completes the "profitable regime change" model—creating wealth for America rather than spending taxpayer money.
Conclusion: Declaration of the ‘Trumpian New Order’
The arrest of Maduro is a textbook case of how traditional boundaries of sovereignty and international law can be rendered powerless before the realism of U.S. interests. Trump has ushered in the era of the "Donroe Doctrine," placing the Western Hemisphere back under strict U.S. control. This is not merely the fall of a dictator, but the declaration of a "Trumpian New Order"—a willingness to project both judicial and military power anywhere that directly affects U.S. interests.
However, it remains to be seen if this "cost-neutral regime change" will succeed. The investment of over $100 billion required to fix collapsed infrastructure and the decades-long process to restore production could become another economic quagmire for the U.S. Furthermore, fierce backlash from Latin American leftist states and asymmetric retaliation from China and Russia could deepen instability. Whether Trump’s "Absolute Resolve" marks the beginning of true peace or the prelude to endless intervention depends on whose hands eventually hold Venezuela’s oil.
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