Attorney Lyu Qiang: Does the Capture of Maduro Violate International Law?

Yesterday saw the biggest international event since the start of 2026: the United States dispatched troops to Venezuela to capture former President Maduro and his wife. This incident reminds me of the U.S. military operation in Pakistan years ago, which resulted in the killing of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. Both events are suspected of violating international law. However, in the case of Maduro’s capture, the U.S. acted based on its domestic laws. First, the U.S. does not recognize Maduro as the legitimate democratically elected leader of Venezuela. Second, the U.S. accuses Maduro of illegally trafficking drugs into the country. Although international law is a systematic legal framework, there is no dedicated organization to enforce it. For example, the current Russian President Putin was once convicted by an international court, yet he continues to serve as Russia’s leader. These events remind me of a statement made by former Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew: in international affairs, “might is right.” I am Attorney Lyu Qiang. If you like my video, please subscribe to my channel.