Venezuela, Greenland and The Donroe Doctrine: Power without Law

Former National Security Advisor John Bolton says of President Trump that “the part he likes about the phrase ‘Donroe Doctrine” is the word ‘Don’ -  he doesn’t do doctrine” but the abduction of the sitting Venezuelan President Maduro and repeated explicit threats to acquire Greenland, by force if necessary, from Trump, Vance and the increasingly unhinged US Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller would appear to signal the end of any hope for the continuation of a rules-based global order. 

To discuss the implications for public international law of Trump’s open contempt for the idea that he should be constrained by anything other than his own personal “morality”, Ken Macdonald KC and Tim Owen KC are joined by their Matrix chambers colleague and Professor of Public International Law at the London School of Economics, Devika Hovell.

What was the international law status of the Maduro government before 3rd January 2026 and to what extent does the US law enforcement justification for his capture hold water in international law terms?  And given the raw reality of US power, does it really matter in practice?

To what extent does the “Donroe Doctrine” have any legal coherence and in what way is it different from the 19th century Monroe Doctrine to which it claims an historic link?  What is the status of Greenland in international law and absent the consent of Denmark or the people of Greenland could the USA lawfully “buy” Greenland from the Greenlanders?

Finally, given the reality that the USA, China and Russia have no respect for international law, is Attorney General Lord Hermer KC right to acknowledge that statecraft/diplomacy is the only way to manage a world dominated by Trump and raw US power?

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Covering the critical intersections of politics and law in the UK with expert commentary on high-profile legal cases, political controversies, prisons and sentencing, human rights law, current political events and the shifting landscape of justice and democracy. With in-depth discussions and influential guests, Double Jeopardy is the podcast that uncovers the forces shaping Britain’s legal and political future.    

What happens when politics and law collide? How do politics shape the law - and when does the law push back? What happens when judicial independence is tested, human rights come under attack, or freedom of expression is challenged? And who really holds power in Britain’s legal and political system?  Get answers to questions like these weekly on Wednesdays.   

Double Jeopardy is presented by Ken Macdonald KC, former Director of Public Prosecutions, and Tim Owen KC, as they break down the legal and political issues in Britain. From high-profile legal cases to the evolving state of British democracy, Double Jeopardy offers expert legal commentary on the most pressing topics in UK law, politics, and human rights.    

Ken Macdonald KC served as Director of Public Prosecutions from 2003-2008, shaping modern prosecutorial policy and advocating for the rule of law. He is a former Warden of Wadham College, Oxford, a crossbench member of the House of Lords, and a leading writer, commentator and broadcaster on politics and the rule of law. 

Tim Owen KC has been involved in many of the most significant public, criminal and human rights law cases over the past four decades.  Both bring unparalleled experience from the frontline of Britain's legal and political landscape. 

If you like The Rest Is Politics, Talking Politics, Law Pod UK and Today in Focus, you’ll love Double Jeopardy.