Trump’s Foray Into Venezuela Could Embolden Russia’s and China’s Own Aggression

New York Times - WorldCenter-LeftEN 6 min read 100% complete by Anton TroianovskiJanuary 6, 2026 at 01:59 AM

AI Summary

long article 6 min

In January 2026, President Trump's military attack on Venezuela and capture of its leader, Nicolás Maduro, prompted international concern. Trump justified the action by claiming Venezuela was "hosting foreign adversaries" and asserting American dominance in the Western Hemisphere. Analysts suggest the move could embolden Russia and China, who were allied with Maduro, to use similar justifications for aggression in their own spheres of influence. The attack introduces global uncertainty, potentially creating opportunities for Russia and China to pursue their interests more aggressively. Russia, in particular, may see this as a chance to revisit past proposals of geopolitical swaps, such as trading influence in Venezuela for reduced U.S. involvement in Ukraine.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Brookings Institution 40% Ukraine ×240% Moscow ×240% Vladimir V. Putin 60% Xi Jinping 60% Fiona Hill ×465% United States ×370% Nicolás Maduro (Maduro) ×475% Venezuela ×780% China ×680% Russia ×885% Donald Trump ×690%

Keywords

venezuela 90% u.s. aggression 90% russia 80% china 80% foreign policy 70% spheres of influence 60% geopolitical swap 60% american dominance 50% transactional foreign policy 50%