By Trendsetter Tribune 
Meta description: Analysts say the U.S. strike that captured Nicolás Maduro could reshape global power dynamics — raising questions for Russia, Ukraine, and America’s role in the Western Hemisphere.
Facing Congress years before Russia invaded Ukraine, Donald Trump’s former Russia adviser Fiona Hill issued a stark warning: Moscow wanted leverage over Ukraine in exchange for backing off Venezuela.
She said Russian officials “signaled” the idea of a geopolitical swap — their influence in Ukraine for U.S. concessions in Venezuela.
Those comments have resurfaced after the U.S. military’s lightning raid to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro — an operation that unfolded quickly, faced little resistance, and stunned governments worldwide.
A Show of Power — and a Strategic Message
The dramatic mission cut off one of Russia’s closest allies in the Western Hemisphere, while simultaneously straining Moscow’s image as a security guarantor.
Former U.S. Ambassador John Herbst warned the action might send Russia and China an unmistakable signal:
the U.S. considers the Western Hemisphere “its backyard.”
Russian officials echoed that narrative, reviving comparisons to the Monroe Doctrine, a 19th-century policy asserting U.S. dominance in the region.
Ukraine Watches Carefully
Ukraine’s leaders reacted cautiously.
President Volodymyr Zelensky noted that if dictators can be removed “so easily,” the U.S. knows what needs to happen — but Kyiv stopped short of endorsing unilateral military action.
Analysts say Ukraine fears the precedent: if one power can invade a sovereign nation, others may follow — the very struggle Ukraine has fought for years.
Risks for U.S. Global Influence
Critics warn that by acting without broad international backing, Washington may weaken its moral authority later.
Some analysts caution that short-term geopolitical wins could cost the U.S. long-term credibility — especially while trying to hold countries like Russia accountable.
Oil, Power, and What Comes Next
Trump has openly touted potential access to Venezuelan oil. Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska warned that if U.S. involvement drives prices down, Moscow’s war funding could be strained.
Still, questions linger about whether removing Maduro truly limits Russian influence. Interim Venezuelan leader Delcy Rodriguez has insisted the alliance with Moscow “cannot be destroyed.”
For now, the world is left weighing what the raid truly represents:
a decisive blow to a dictator — or a shift toward an era where great powers redraw the map by force.
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