By Desmond Nleya
United States President Donald Trump has downplayed the importance of international law, saying his actions are guided by his “own morality” as the US intensifies its aggressive foreign policies, including the recent seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
In an interview with The New York Times on Thursday, Trump said he does not rely on international law to restrain his actions. “I don’t need international law. I’m not looking to hurt people,” he said. When asked directly whether he must follow international law, Trump responded that it “depends on what your definition of international law is.”
Trump’s remarks come amid growing concern over Washington’s increasing use of military force to achieve foreign policy goals.
US Attack on Venezuela
On Saturday, the United States launched a pre-dawn military operation against Venezuela. Explosions were reported in the capital, Caracas, and at several Venezuelan military bases. US forces later abducted President Maduro from Caracas.
Critics argue that the operation was a clear violation of the United Nations Charter, which forbids the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of another state.
The attack has intensified fears about the direction of US foreign policy under Trump. Last month, the US president received the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize Award, a move that has since drawn criticism in light of recent events.
Broader Foreign Policy Threats
In recent days, Trump has also suggested the US could consider military action against Colombia’s left-wing President Gustavo Petro. At the same time, he has renewed efforts to acquire Greenland, a territory governed by Denmark.
In June, the US joined Israel in its military campaign against Iran, with Trump ordering air strikes on three of Iran’s main nuclear facilities.
Senior Trump aide Stephen Miller has openly criticised the post-World War II international system, saying the US will now act “unapologetically” to protect its interests, particularly in the Western Hemisphere.
“We’re a superpower, and under President Trump, we are going to conduct ourselves as a superpower,” Miller told CNN on Monday.
Warnings From Legal Experts
International law experts have warned that dismissing global legal norms could have serious consequences worldwide, including for the US itself.
International law consists of rules and agreements, including UN conventions and international treaties, that regulate relations between states.
Margaret Satterthwaite, the UN special rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, described US statements rejecting international law as “extremely dangerous.”
She warned that the world may be moving back toward an “age of imperialism,” adding that weakening international law could encourage other powerful nations to use force.
“If we don’t insist on international law, we risk sliding into a much more dangerous global order,” Satterthwaite said, pointing to ongoing global conflicts as evidence of the risks.
Yusra Suedi, an assistant professor of international law at the University of Manchester, echoed those concerns, warning against the idea that “might makes right.”
She said such actions could embolden countries like China in relation to Taiwan, or Russia in its war against Ukraine.
Lessons From History
Ian Hurd, a professor of political science at Northwestern University, said US intervention in Latin America has a long and troubled history.
For more than a century, the region has experienced US invasions and US-backed coups, often resulting in political instability, repression, and human rights abuses.
“There are countless examples, from Panama and Haiti to Nicaragua and Chile in the 1970s,” Hurd said.
He added that US involvement in Venezuela follows the same pattern.
“In nearly every case, the US later regretted intervening. These actions rarely lead to positive outcomes,” he said.
