Reinhold Niebuhr (1892–1971) is undoubtedly one of the most influential thinkers in American political thought. The New York Times once described him as the “Supreme American Theologian of the Twentieth Century.” As the foremost proponent of Christian Realism, Niebuhr earned the title of the “American conscience”—a designation that remains strikingly relevant, perhaps even more so in the Trumpian era. To adopt a Niebuhrian perspective is to return to the moral conscience of America as one nation under God. This article aims to offer a critical assessment of U.S. actions in Caracas earlier this year through the lens of Reinhold Niebuhr’s thought.

On 3 January 2026, the United States launched “Operation Absolute Resolve,” an operation that extracted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from Caracas. The stated objective of the operation was to halt drug trafficking into the United States. Secretary of State Marco Rubio characterized the action as a law-enforcement operation rather than an act of war. He further denied that oil constituted the primary motive, while acknowledging Washington’s concern over the significance presence of US rivals—China, Russia, and Iran—in Venezuela’s strategic sectors.

These concerns are not unfounded. The China Development Bank has extended approximately US$19 billion in oil-for-loans deals to Venezuela in order to secure energy supplies beyond areas of US dominance. Both countries in 2023 elevated ties in 2023 to an “all weather strategic partnership”. Iran has reportedly established........

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