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Maduro’s kidnapping marks the return of spheres of influence to geopolitics

The UK and Europe will be the biggest losers

Ian Proud, Jan 06, 2026

In my first ever full YouTube video, I spend half an hour talking about the dramatic kidnapping of Nicolas Maduro and his wife at the weekend.

Let’s be clear, this was not about drugs, but about Trump announcing that the USA now decisively controls the western hemisphere.

This was foreshadowed in the new US National Security Strategy.

The Russians may make noise but will accept it, as Putin is more concerned about a bigger strategic reset with the US and finishing the Ukraine war on terms favourable to Russia.

China will see a massive opportunity to gain more influence in the developing world and Trump’s actions will manufacture more consent for a muscular Chinese posture over Taiwan.

But Europe and the UK will be diminished most by this move. Unable to criticise Trump, for fear of losing his support for the Ukraine proxy war, they will appear increasingly duplicitious and mendacious, shattering their geopolitical credibility in the developing world even further.

Buckle up for the return of spheres of influenc

January 8, 2026 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics international