Trump Shakes Global Order with Surprise Capture of Venezuela's Maduro The deposed Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro pleaded not guilty to drugs, weapons and narco-terrorism charges on Monday, two days after his capture by US special forces in an operation ordered by Donald Trump. The brazen move sent shockwaves around the world, sparking a global wave of condemnation and fears that similar actions could happen in other countries. As Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores addressed the court in lower Manhattan, the United Nations and leaders from across the political spectrum condemned the US-led operation as a blatant violation of Venezuela's sovereignty. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, called for an independent investigation, warning that the arrest could have "severe consequences" for the already fragile human rights situation in the country. The surprise capture of Maduro marked a dramatic escalation of the Trump administration's efforts to oust the Venezuelan leader, whom it has long sought to replace with opposition leader Juan Guaidó. Trump has maintained a hardline stance towards Maduro, imposing crippling economic sanctions and recognizing Guaidó as the country's legitimate president despite Maduro's continued control of key state institutions. The operation, carried out with the support of Colombia, came just days after the outgoing Trump administration designated Maduro and dozens of his top officials as "narco-terrorists," accusing them of colluding with the Colombian rebel group FARC to flood the US with cocaine. Washington offered a $15 million bounty for information leading to Maduro's capture. The dramatic events in New York unfolded as the UN Security Council convened an emergency meeting to discuss the situation in Venezuela. Russian and Chinese representatives condemned the US-led action as a flagrant violation of international law, with the Russian envoy Vassily Nebenzia describing it as an "outrageous" act of "state terrorism." The US ambassador to the UN, Kelly Craft, defended the operation, arguing that Maduro was a "dangerous dictator" who had robbed the Venezuelan people of their democracy and turned the country into a "pariah state." She insisted that Washington was committed to restoring the "legitimate government" of Juan Guaidó. The events in New York were the latest twist in Venezuela's long-running political and economic crisis, which has seen Maduro cling to power despite a debilitating recession, hyperinflation, and a massive exodus of refugees. The country's dire situation has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has overwhelmed its battered healthcare system. Maduro, who has ruled Venezuela since 2013, has long been a thorn in the side of successive US administrations. He has survived numerous attempts to unseat him, including a failed military uprising in 2019 backed by the Trump administration. His capture represents a major victory for Trump's hardline Venezuela policy, which has included crippling sanctions and efforts to bolster the opposition. However, the operation has also raised concerns about the broader implications for international law and the principles of national sovereignty. Many experts warn that the precedent set by the US action could embolden other countries to launch similar cross-border operations, undermining the delicate balance of global order. "This is a hugely significant moment that will reverberate far beyond Venezuela," said Geoff Ramsey, a Venezuela expert at the Washington Office on Latin America. "The message it sends is that no country is safe from US meddling, and that the rules-based international order is increasingly under threat." The fallout from Maduro's capture is likely to be felt for years to come, both within Venezuela and on the global stage. The Trump administration's decision to forcibly remove a sitting head of state, even one it deems illegitimate, has raised serious questions about the limits of American power and the future of international cooperation. As the world watches anxiously, the fate of Nicolás Maduro and the future of Venezuela remain shrouded in uncertainty. One thing is clear: Trump's bold gambit has shaken the foundations of the global order, with potentially far-reaching consequences for years to come.