Not 3 days have passed and already 2026 seems to be at the top of its potential for worrying news on the path to World War III.
Trump said that the operation had to wait for the weather to be perfect, and indeed, it was, since yesterday was the deadline for the disclosure of the Epstein papers documenting the entrapment of the US Government by a foreign entity.
Beyond the blatant disregard for "international law", but is there such a thing? The most striking aspect of the operation is that it was announced at the very beginning of the Trump administration early last year. It was preceded by the idea of a "friendly" merger offer to Canada to become the 51st state. Rejected. Then a takeover bid for Greenland which was likewise declined by Denmark. In the end, Trump went for the easier target in South America: Venezuela.
In fact, the only difference between the Trump administration and its predecessors is the "in your face" total and utter lack of diplomacy. But why bother with niceties when you are convinced that the dollar hegemony and your superior firepower can insulate you from any blow-back?
To reflate the US economy, Trump needs a new "frontier" and especially resources. Venezuela has plenty of them, starting with oil in the Orinoco basin. (Around Maracaibo, North Western part of the map below.)
What's next then?
A few hours before the attack, Maduro had just met with a Chinese delegation visiting Caracas to increase commercial and military cooperation. This is clearly a slap in China's face as well as a warning for other South American Nations. From now on, the Monroe doctrine will be applied ruthlessly.
The real risk is that Trump, the good Las Vegas player he is, will not stop now believing that this is a winning streak. China needs, must in fact put an end to the show, otherwise its growing economic might will end up being a pyrrhic victory just like Japan in the 1980s destroyed by the Plaza Accord of 1985.
The next target on the menu list is of course Iran. The fall of the country would corner China, proving to the rest of the world that it is a paper tiger and reversing the integration progress of the BRICS. The problem is that Russia will probably be bogged down in Ukraine for the rest of 2026 and China doesn't yet have the capability to project its power all the way to the Middle East. So how exactly do you stop a bully without starting World War III? Silence will be interpreted as a sign of weakness and negotiation welcomed with treachery. Is this the ominous game where the only winning move is not to play? Hopefully, the combination of AI and Sun Tzu military wisdom will generate an unlikely solution. We probably won't have very long to wait to know the answer. Once again: Welcome to 2026!
Here's the comments from Jeffrey Sachs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhZuTOuwKGA
Here"s the comments from Douglas Macgregor:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfA20zBIUGs
And here's The Duran:
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