The reported capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by the US military raises grave questions about the state of international law and global governance. If a sitting head of state can be abducted by a powerful nation without UN authorization, what meaning does sovereignty hold for smaller countries? The silence and apparent helplessness of the United Nations and the Security Council are deeply troubling. While some nations have expressed concern, no meaningful action has followed. This exposes the structural weakness of international institutions when a permanent Security Council member is involved. The veto system, once designed to prevent global conflict, now appears to shield powerful states from accountability. If international law has indeed been violated, why is the International Criminal Court unable to act? The message being sent is dangerous: that might makes right. History has shown us the devastating consequences of unilateral interventions in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere. Countries such as Cuba, Colombia, and other smaller nations have reason to fear a precedent where force replaces diplomacy, often under the pretext of security or access to resources. It is time for nations to unite in defence of international law and collective responsibility.
