College of Political Sciences

• Reviving the Monroe Doctrine within Trump’s political doctrine

• The arrest of Maduro as a symbolic international deterrence tool

• Implications of the operation for global power balances

• Strategic messages directed explicitly at China and Russia

• Decline of international legitimacy and the rise of the logic of force

In line with the Sustainable Development Goals—Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, and Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals—and in cooperation with the Department of Studies and Planning / Sustainable Development Unit (at the Presidency of the University of Mosul), Al-Bayan Center for Studies and Planning published a situation assessment paper by a faculty member of the International Relations Branch at the College of Political Science, Lecturer Dr. Ali Bashar Bakr, entitled: “Venezuela at the Heart of International Conflict and the Symbolism of the Image: Donald Trump’s Annex to the Monroe Doctrine and the Crisis of Global Legitimacy,”
dated 7 January 2026.

The paper discussed the dimensions of the operation to arrest Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro within the context of international conflict, addressing its strategic backgrounds linked to the revival of the Monroe Doctrine in Trump’s political doctrine, and its repercussions on global power balances—particularly U.S.–China relations—along with an analysis of the international legal dimensions and the psychological and deterrent symbolism of the operation.

The study aimed to interpret the strategic, political, and legal implications of the U.S. operation in Venezuela, clarify its position within transformations of the international system, and reveal the nature of the messages directed at major powers, especially China and Russia, within the framework of reasserting U.S. military hegemony.

The paper concluded that the operation represents a clear shift toward reviving U.S. military dominance and marginalizing international legitimacy, reflecting the employment of force and psychological symbolism as tools of global deterrence. This trend warns of the weakening of international law and opens the door to a more chaotic international order governed by power balances rather than legal rules.

For its part, the College Deanship commended this diligent scholarly effort, wishing the researcher and all faculty members continued excellence and success in service of our college, our university, and our city, God willing.

To View The Full Research, Click Here.