Geopolitical Escalation in Venezuela: IMI and CGC Expertise Assesses Current Developments
The escalation in Latin America raises fundamental questions about the international order, power projection, spheres of influence, and the future role of the United States in global politics. At the ZHAW International Management Institute, and particularly at its ZHAW Center for Geopolitics and Competitiveness, there is extensive expertise to assess these developments from geopolitical, economic, and institutional perspectives.
The latest geopolitical developments are attracting significant international attention and causing considerable uncertainty. Following a military strike on Venezuela ordered by US President Donald Trump, strategic targets were bombed and Venezuela’s head of state, Nicolás Maduro, was arrested in an unprecedented operation and brought to the United States, where he is now expected to stand trial. At the same time, the US president threatened further military interventions in countries such as Cuba, Colombia, Iran, or Greenland.
As early as yesterday, Prof. Christopher Hartwell, Head of the ZHAW International Management Institute (IMI), commented on the events on the Polish television channel BIZNES24. In his interview, he analysed the strategic motives of the United States as well as the possible consequences for the Venezuelan economy and international stability.
The assessment of ZHAW experts is also receiving attention in the Swiss media. On nau.ch, Dominique Ursprung from the ZHAW Center for Geopolitics and Competitiveness (CGC) commented on the US intervention:
“US dominance in the Western Hemisphere is of central importance. This explicitly includes direct interventions, such as those currently taking place in Venezuela.”
Read the article “Donald Trump: Which country will he attack next?” here (in German)
In another article on nau.ch, in addition to Ursprung, CGC director Prof. Florian Keller also has his say. He warns:
“We are moving toward the imperialism of the 19th century. That is, like great powers that were led by noble families and divided the world among themselves.”
Read the article “Donald Trump makes it easier for the Russians and Chinese” (in German)
Beyond Latin America, the events are also being closely followed in other regions of the world. Dr. Alina Nychyk, a researcher at the CGC focusing on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and Ukraine’s relations with the European Union, describes the perspective of many Ukrainians on the US operation in Venezuela as follows:
“Since Ukraine has the war going on, events in faraway parts of the world, are usually less relevant for Ukrainians. Yet the operation in Venezuela got certain reactions. First, there are jokes and hopes that Trump will do the same with Putin and bring him to Hague. Second, there are fears that Trump's actions might show the new division of the world into spheres of influence, which will consequently empower Russia to be even more aggressive in Europe.”