James argues that comparing the U.S. capture of Nicolás Maduro to the 1989 removal of Manuel Noriega in Panama is misleading. Panama was small, militarily weak, and already filled with U.S. troops, which made regime change fast and controllable. Venezuela is the opposite: a large country with a powerful military, deep national identity, and vast oil and mineral resources.

Removing Maduro alone doesn’t dismantle the regime that keeps him in power, especially the military, which enabled the disputed 2024 election. The U.S. appears to be pressuring Venezuela’s leadership to cooperate while keeping the existing government structure intact. Opposition politics remain complicated, and Washington’s long‑term strategy is unclear. Overall, the article warns that Venezuela is far harder to influence or stabilize than Panama ever was.

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