Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes Trump attacks Venzuela
29 snips
Jan 5, 2026 
In this discussion, Jeremy Shapiro, Research Director at the European Council on Foreign Relations, and José Ignacio Torreblanca, a Distinguished Policy Fellow, dive into the U.S. military's dramatic capture of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela. They explore Trump's motivations and the implications of U.S. control over Venezuela’s oil reserves. The conversation shifts to U.S. foreign policy, the role of factional politics in Trump’s decision-making, and potential ramifications for regions like Greenland, questioning whether military force will shape future American engagement across the Americas.
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Shift From Narco-Fighting To Resource Control
- The US raid captured Nicolás Maduro and shifted policy from targeting narco-traffickers to claiming control over Venezuela's oil.
- Mark Leonard frames this as a move from law enforcement rhetoric to territorial/resource control under Trump.
Regime Power Runs Deeper Than Maduro
- Jose Ignacio Torreblanca recounts the regime's long electoral losses and systematic rigging since 2015.
- He argues Maduro was not the core power and his removal could leave the corrupt system intact.
Presidential Change, Not Full Regime Overhaul
- The operation looks like a 'presidential change' not a full regime-change.
- Jeremy Shapiro says the US aims for control of oil and to sever Venezuela's support for Cuba more than promoting democracy.
