In the age of great power competition, wars are increasingly waged by proxy. Instead of meeting on the battlefield, major powers are armed, financed, informed, and militarily assisted partners fighting each other in other regions. From Europe to the Middle East, today’s wars more and more look like external powers are fighting on different sides, supporting, but not formally joining, the fight. This growing dependence on proxy warfare marks a transformation of international conflict at its core.
Tag: Political
The Caracas Raid, State Criminalisation, and America’s Domestic Calculus
In the early hours of January 3, 2026, U.S. Special Forces carried out a daring raid in Caracas, capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. This significant military operation involved over 150 aircraft neutralising Venezuelan air defences to extract the couple. It marked a major shift in U.S. foreign policy. The raid was not spontaneous; it was the result of a long-term effort by the U.S. to oust Maduro, an authoritarian leader accused of serious corruption and drug-related crimes. President Donald Trump defended the action by labelling Maduro a criminal instead of a statesman, stating that the U.S. would manage Venezuela to help with a government transition.
France’s Leadership Crisis: What Comes Next?
France’s political elite were shaken this week when Prime Minister François Bayrou was removed after losing a no-confidence motion in the National Assembly. The failure comes in a series of government collapses during the Macron era, reinforcing how precarious executive power has become in a parliament divided along ideological fault lines. Acting quickly, President Emmanuel Macron appointed Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu as the new prime minister today — a gesture aimed at conveying competence and continuity at a time when the presidency is in danger of looking stuck.