As is well known, on January 3, 2026, without yet swallowing (for fun) the capo de mer or the traditional congratulations, President Donald Trump ordered the use of military force to handcuff and bring to justice Mr. Nicolas Maduro, who: "by abusing the power of government and drug gangs, not only ruled the people of Venezuela for 13 years but also threatened the standards of life and security of Americans, as well as the geopolitical interests on the southern borders of the United States"!
I. Summary of the findings and geopolitical implications of the operation to handcuff Maduro:
First of all, beyond the poisonous machinery of disinformation (deep fake), the horror of Putinists, Kim-Joungs or Maduro-like rulers, as well as the cacophony of know-it-alls everywhere in the studios/media, unfortunately also in Tirana, Pristina, etc., this operation: "I do not find aggression in any way for the occupation of Venezuela", but as a contribution to its liberation, as well as strengthening the belief in Trump's strong doctrine/approach: "peace imposed through force, against rulers taken by the power of superpower"!
Likewise, I find President Trump fully within the exercise of constitutional responsibilities proclaimed in the Security Strategy - 2025 (approved by Congress and Senate) which includes: "the FAA's duty to protect state borders, citizen security standards, and American interests from weapons of mass destruction, illegal immigration, international narco-terrorism, etc." Having said that, without a doubt, "the handcuffing of Maduro without Moscow's permission, etc." sealed President Trump-2's project for: "an even greater/stronger America, and the imposition of peace through force," which legitimizes the use of military force against omnipotent autocrats, who, in addition to ruling their peoples, also threaten the sovereignty and way of life of the American people!
Second, not only was there no invasion by the US, but in reality this attack has just ignited the spark of freedom for the people of Venezuela, Colombia, Cuba, Iran, etc., as well as the hope of being freed from drugs, crime, and omnipotent rulers! Therefore, just a few hours after Maduro's handcuffs, the US also warned the ridiculous Colombian President Gustavo Petro to "not take up arms in vain", as he has zero chance of facing the US in similar cases.
The use of military force did not come overnight. This is because US-Venezuelan relations deteriorated especially after Maduro took power in 2013 (according to the UN, over 20.000 citizens have been executed without trial); although the July 2024 elections were not recognized by the US and the EU, he stayed and extended his power until he was handcuffed to his residence, abusing the power of the state, as well as turning the country into a haven for drug gangs, as well as Russian, Iranian, Chinese interests, etc. However, after the operation, the US confirmed that: "they will cooperate with a government that will emerge from an inclusive coalition, including moderate factors, the official opposition, and the Venezuelan diaspora, to pave the way for democratic elections and the stability of the country."
Third, not that it is not an invasion at all, but there is “no violation of international law and it cannot be a dangerous precedent,” since the US has never intended, nor has it declared, an invasion of the territorial integrity of Venezuela. On the contrary, they have strongly emphasized that: “they are not at war with Venezuela, but with the rulers of those who empty prisons and send drug addicts/mentally ill people to the US, threatening the lives of Americans and the geopolitical interests of the US,” be it in Venezuela, Colombia, Cuba, Iran or wherever!
Moreover, I find no comparison with the neo-Nazi aggression of Putinist Russia about 4 years ago, which aimed not only at the invasion of Ukraine, but also at the global order, democratic values, interests and military power of the Euro-Atlantic Alliance (USA/NATO/EU). Thus, while on the battlefield for/with Ukraine over 1.5 million Russian soldiers and innocent citizens have been killed and seriously injured, in this case, in less than 5 hours of operation to handcuff the ruler, US military forces killed the ruler's security personnel (- 100), so no hospital, school, residential center and infrastructure vital to the lives of Venezuelan citizens were attacked with missiles and killer drones, etc.
Fourth, the handcuffing of Maduro can in no way be defined as an invasion, although it certainly sealed the end of the old security order (UNSC/UN), and confirmed the de facto establishment of a new order, which can also be identified with the name of Donald Trump. However, it must be said that the old order fell due to a few successes, but many failures, due to the critical impotence of the order established in 1945. To illustrate this, we need only hear the screams of the Serbenica genocide, when 8000 children, women and elderly people were barbarically executed “before the eyes of the UN Blue Helmets” by Milosevic’s criminal machine!
Fifthly/finally, in Operation “Absolute Resolve”, over 150 aircraft, including drones, were launched from 20 military bases, lasted only 4:45' and had zero casualties, completely disabling the air defense system of a country that spends over $6 billion a year on defense, which not only demonstrated one of the “most discreet, fastest, most precise, and most successful operations ever undertaken by the US military power”. On the other hand, Venezuela's reactive powerlessness (zero) also raises some critical questions about the operational capabilities/efficiency of the air defense systems and armaments procured/bought from China and Russia, consequences that will be reflected in the future by every country?!
In summary, no other country in the world (including China and Russia) has, and will not have in the next 100 years, the military power to carry out operations similar to these 2 cases (including the attack with 6 B-2 aircraft at a cost of $2 trillion; 37 hours of flight; 10 Tomahawk missiles and 125 F-35 aircraft against the nuclear bases of the Ayatollah of Iran) also serve as a message of the destructive power of the USA to Putin, Kim Jong, etc., if they dare to threaten American interests or any of the 32 NATO member countries.
II. Lessons and strategic advice for the Republic of Albania and Kosovo:
1) While apart from delinquent fantasies, I find no comparison between the Maduro case and the Republic of Albania and any other NATO country, but beyond this hybrid crisis, that is: "facade democracy and opposition rejected/discredited by the recycling of abominable lists in the last 4 elections as well as the failed state/riddled by endemic corruption", restoring faith in functional democracy and the harmony of the balances of power, remains not only advice No. 1, but also the challenge and vital mission of all Albanians.
2) Given the Maduro case and the destruction of Iran's nuclear bases, I must reiterate that in a New Global Security Order (already stamped with President Trump's name), no country can withstand or survive military aggression alone. Having said that, the protection of sovereignty, as well as the development of geopolitical interests, the Republic of Albania and Kosovo will only be able to achieve by forging national recognition, as well as by further strengthening strategic cooperation with the US/NATO.
3) Beyond Vučić's oscillations, but re-applauding the "agreement between Croatia, Kosovo and the Republic of Albania, as well as the Historic 2026 Defense Budget", I would advise state actors in Tirana and Pristina to bow their heads before bloody history to give life to the Platform: "2-Sovereign States, 1-Single Nation", which will contribute to peace, stability and Euro-Atlantic integration of the 6 countries of the Western Balkans. Also, considering the bitter lesson from the halving that was imposed on "Natural Albania" by military impotence at the Versailles Conference (1918), I find this project not only a National emergency, but fortunately also intertwined with US interests in the region and the Mediterranean.
4) While the re-return to the arms race in the Western Balkans and the arming to the teeth of Serbia, the Republic of Albania's objective towards 5% of GDP (around €1.5 billion), apart from being "pressure" by President Trump, I also see it as international legitimacy (US/NATO/EU), but also a historical opportunity to modernize and increase military power, including deterrence capacities (i.e. discouraging) against any Russian-Slavic country/alliance that threatens the sovereignty or geopolitical interests of the Republic of Albania and Kosovo.
Finally, as in hundreds of products on this subject, published in Tirana, Pristina, the USA, Brussels, etc., I do not claim to privatize exhaustive truths, however I hope they contribute to the protection and development of the geopolitical interests as well as the Euro-Atlantic future of the Nation (the Republic of Albania and Kosovo).
Author: Senior Expert on National Security and Defense, the Balkans and relations with the USA/NATO
