The period since 1945, called by some the “Long Peace of Europe” or “Pax Americana” died on February 24, 2022, when Russia launched its unprovoked and unjustified war on Ukraine. Since then, Hamas launched an attack on Israel, who has disproportionately responded. On Sunday, Venezuela was the most recent country to rattle the saber by threatening to annex most of the country of Guyana.
Photo credit: The Independent
This dispute dates back to the 19th Century where an international tribunal awarded the British Empire the contested territory, called Essequibo, instead of Venezuela. The latter has never dropped its claim, but until lately it remained under wraps, at least until oil was discovered in recent years.
In a clear show of repudiating the Maduro regime, more than two-thirds of Venezuelans stayed home, much to the relief of the Guyanese government. Venezuelan authorities 95% of voters supported annexing Essequibo.
The most likely outcome is that Maduro is simply utilizing bellicose language to try and prop up his popularity ahead of an election year. Maduro is facing a very difficult re-election bid against Opposition Leader María Corina Machado. The International Court of Justice warned Maduro to back off and take no action that “may alter the status quo in Essequibo.”
Photo credit: Getty
The fifth and final question in the referendum asked the Venezuelan people to reject the ICJ’s jurisdiction in this case. In response to Venezuela’s aggressive actions, Brazil reinforced its border with Venezuela with additional troops and vehicles. Gisela Padovan, Brazil's top diplomat for Latin America and the Caribbean, is skeptical this could grow into a hot conflict, saying "We are following the situation with concern. I do not believe it will come to an armed conflict.”
As I wrote above, this situation is just the latest proof of the death of the Pax Americana; the post-1945 world order spanning nearly eighty years without a major international war in the Americas or Europe. While the United States will remain the world’s global economic and military hegemon, the gap is narrowing and we will need to lean on our European and Asian allies while also re-engaging our African and American allies.
A non-exhaustive list of current world hotspots right now:
Ukraine
Israel/Gaza
Niger
PRC/Taiwan
Venezuela
Balkans
Syria
India
Yemen
Just because the Pax Americana is dead doesn’t mean that America’s decline is inevitable or that we should simply give up. That’s not what Americans do-not at Valley Forge, not at Antietam, not at Belleau Wood or the Bulge. We will continue to be a bastion of human rights and liberal democracy. We will continue to fail forward, winning new rights and freedoms too slowly, but winning them nonetheless.
This new period of American foreign relations must be based not simply on economic ties, but defense of democracy around the world and protecting human rights. This is not a call for a new era of regime change, far from it, but in a world of rising authoritarian movements, we will be the first place the world looks for aid and for hope. Our diplomatic efforts must and will reflect that as well as mitigating conflicts as much as humanly possible.
We will answer the call that is demanded of us. We will expand our liberties and extend the rights we have won in the past. That is what Americans do.
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