Manuel Noriega

Manuel Noriega was the de facto ruler of Panama from 1983 to 1989. His regime was marked by authoritarianism and alleged involvement in drug trafficking. He was ousted during the United States invasion of Panama in 1989, Operation Just Cause. While Noriega himself is deceased, he is newsworthy due to comparisons being drawn between his capture and the reported capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by the United States. Recent news articles highlight Maduro joining Saddam Hussein and Noriega as leaders seized by the US, drawing parallels between these historical events and raising questions about international law and US foreign policy interventions. This comparison underscores the historical precedent of the US intervening in foreign countries to remove leaders it deems unfavorable, and the potential ramifications of such actions.