President Trump’s brazen attack on Venezuela has violated the most sacred rule of international law – the near-century old ban on use of military force against another country. It returns the Americas to an era of gunboat diplomacy by imperial warlords.

The attack is such a serious use of force that it amounts to an “armed attack” under the United Nations Charter, giving Venezuela a legal right of self-defence.

Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro arrives at New York’s Westside Heliport wearing a hoodie and handcuffs and making a peace sign.Credit: Bloomberg

The responsible US political leaders and military commanders could also be personally liable for the international crime of aggression.

Every Venezuelan life lost as a result of illegal aggression also involves a violation of the human right to life by the US.

The illegal abductions of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are further breaches of international law. There is no right to “arrest” any criminal suspect in a foreign country without the consent of its government. As a head of government, Maduro also enjoys immunity from criminal prosecution in the US courts.

To be sure, the........

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