President Donald Trump’s second term has seen a sharp escalation in U.S. foreign policy, with Washington pursuing an increasingly confrontational stance on the global stage. From a dramatic military operation in Venezuela to renewed claims over Greenland, the administration’s actions have alarmed allies and reignited fears of geopolitical instability. European leaders and NATO partners are now openly warning that such rhetoric and manoeuvres risk undermining long-standing alliances and threatening the foundations of international order.

Aaron Joyce, Newswire, L.T.T Media; January 20, 2026

U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that American forces carried out a major overnight military operation in Venezuela, resulting in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Explosions were reported in Caracas, with key military installations allegedly targeted. The Venezuelan government has condemned the action as “imperialist aggression” and declared a national emergency, as international reaction continues to mount.

Tensions between the United States and Venezuela have escalated after multiple American citizens were confirmed detained by Venezuelan authorities, even as President Nicolás Maduro’s government announced the release of dozens of political prisoners held following the disputed 2024 presidential election. The detentions have raised serious diplomatic and human-rights concerns, with U.S. officials assessing whether some cases qualify as wrongful detention amid an intensifying pressure campaign against Caracas. The situation underscores growing instability in U.S.–Venezuela relations and renewed scrutiny of Maduro’s handling of political dissent and foreign nationals.