In January 2026, Venezuela was thrust into the global spotlight following the execution of a U.S. military operation that was purportedly directed at Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The nature of this operation brought immediate press coverage from innumerable media outlets around the world and became a ‘trending’ topic on various social media platforms, as well as creating a number of questions regarding sovereignty, international law, and global strategic interests. According to the U.S. administration, this military intervention was undertaken to counteract the growing influence of criminal networks involved in narcotics trafficking. The Venezuelan government labelled the operation as an illegal act against Venezuela's sovereignty.This event has implications beyond its sensational headlines, as the operation can be utilised as an analysis tool for the broader relationship between domestic political events and global events and interests.
Venezuela's ongoing political turmoil has roots extending back hundreds of years prior to the establishment of modern-day Venezuela. Following Hugo Chávez's passing in 2013, Nicolás Maduro became president of Venezuela, taking over a country plagued by systematic failures and vulnerabilities, political dependency on oil exports, and ethnic and class divisions. Despite being designed to alleviate income inequality, Chávez's socialist economic model increased government inefficiencies and exaggerated state control over specific sectors of the economy.
During Maduro's presidency, the nation's economic crises have deepened significantly; the hyperinflation rate experienced by Venezuelans has risen to historically high levels, essential consumer products are lacking, and millions of Venezuelans have fled their country in search of security and a stable existence. Understanding Venezuela's ongoing internal challenges is crucial to understanding why Venezuela is experiencing such widespread civil disorder today.
The massive natural resources of Venezuela, including the country's oil reserves (Orinoco Oil Belt (Faja del Orinoco), Junín, Carabobo, Ayacucho, Boyacá, Lake Maracaibo Basin, Bolívar Coastal Field, Lagunillas, Tía Juana, Bachaquero), make it an important country for the entire world. Venezuela has some of the largest proven reserves of oil in the world, so the stability of Venezuela politically is very important for energy markets globally. When there is a disruption in the production of oil from Venezuela, it can significantly impact the price of oil and the ability of major importing countries to get oil, and therefore the energy strategies of those nations such as India, China, and several European countries. This dramatic example from the crisis of 2026 demonstrates that nations which are rich in resources often become "pieces on a chessboard" for strategists, and the problem or issue affecting those countries can also have effects that extend far beyond their borders.
The United States operated in Venezuela, and the response from the international community was mixed. A number of nations condemned the United States for intervening in Venezuela, and cited violations of international law and the potential to undermine state sovereignty. A few nations carefully supported the action, stating that they viewed it as a carefully targeted action against the alleged criminal and terrorist elements collaborating with and protected by the Maduro government. This divide in perceptions shows how difficult it is to make a decision about foreign policy in today's world; legal norms, moral values, and strategic objectives will always collude in some way.
The crisis in Venezuela is likely to have both short- and long-term economic impacts. The oil production of Venezuela has been affected by previous sanctions and mismanagement, but the current crisis will likely be another disruption to its oil production, which could lead to fluctuations in the global oil market. Countries that depend on imports from Venezuela will have to pay higher prices and face logistic difficulties in getting shipments from the country, while the Venezuelan people will continue to suffer from humanitarian crises that have resulted from the political instability created by the crisis; food insecurity, lack of access to health care, and violence will likely increase. The ability of their civil institutions and the international community to assist will be tested. This scenario illustrates how local political instability can result in far-reaching economic and humanitarian repercussions.
The crisis in Venezuela provides several lessons from an educational perspective. First, it demonstrates the relationship between natural resources and political power, showing that resources can either contribute to the stability or instability of a country. Second, it shows how external factors can shape domestic political processes; therefore, when studying military and economic strategies, it is essential to also study international law, diplomacy, and ethical frameworks. Third, the crisis in Venezuela illustrates how failures of governance at the national level can create global ripple effects; for example, national governance failures create energy security issues, increased migration, and formation of new national and international alliances.
The crisis also serves to reinforce important lessons in crisis management, as well as how to do proper long-term planning. Quick fixes might provide short-term gains; however, they frequently lead to unanticipated problems due to unaddressed foundational issues. Policy practitioners, international institutions, and civil society must carefully assess the benefits of a quick fix versus a long-term solution, and this will require a multi-faceted approach to find the best solution across political, economic, and social spheres. Venezuela's plight has highlighted the necessity for careful planning, risk assessment, and ethical decision-making related to the handling of complicated crises.
In summation, the Venezuela crisis of 2026 is clearly beyond the realm of national politics and transcends to allow for an examination of all areas of international relations, including the study of geopolitics, economics, and governance. By studying this crisis, observers of international relations can learn how closely linked domestic policy is to global forces, including energy markets, humanitarian crises, and political relations. The situation in Venezuela exemplifies the connection between domestic policy and global relations, and therefore creates a unique opportunity for education, research, and policy development in this area of acceptance between the three tiers of the global environment (national, international, and global) and their interplay with ethics and morality, and resource management, in today's complex world.
In summary, the Venezuelan crisis of 2026 has forced everyone throughout the world to acknowledge uncomfortable truths about the relationship between power and resources and international responsibility. It also shows that countries that are rich in a valuable resource (e.g., oil) tend to experience political turmoil within their borders (due to some external influence), which puts the spotlight on that instability and forces the rest of the world to address those issues. Additionally, this situation indicates the limits of using force (whether military or economic) to address the short-term tactical needs of a nation; these techniques do not solve the root problems of ineffective governance, economic mismanagement, and social disintegration, which ultimately create the long-term problems of a nation. In fact, the opposite effect is often produced. Further, this situation has highlighted the fact that failures of governance on a national level have the potential to create global challenges that impact not only energy security but also migration patterns and geopolitical alignments throughout areas of the world that are not necessarily tied to Latin America. Thus, the lessons learned from the Venezuelan experience must serve as a constant reminder to policymakers, institutions, and future leaders and demonstrate that sustainable solutions to crises need more than just intervention; they need the development of long-term plans that incorporate ethical decision-making processes and cooperation among countries that emphasize the rights of all people, rather than simply advancing a nation’s strategic interests. Thus, the situation in Venezuela is not simply a regional issue. Instead, it is an illustration of how interconnected the economic, political, and moral choices being made by nations today have become throughout the world.