The "rules-based order" is effectively a promise to respect sovereign nations until the world collectively decides to take measures. The fundamental deal was simple: soldiers crossing the lines we agreed to draw on the maps require declarations of war. If they do so without one, a rule is broken, and the international community is obligated to punish the perpetrator collectively.

But that deal is dead. The operation to capture Maduro in Caracas yesterday proves it. We aren't dealing with hypotheticals anymore; the US just removed a sitting head of state and announced administrative control over a sovereign nation. Whether it’s Russia annexing parts of Ukraine, the ongoing sovereignty crisis in Palestine, or now the US directly intervening in Venezuela, the mask is entirely off.

We have learned over the past few decades that institutions like the UN and NATO were mostly larping effective governance until things got serious. Now that the threat of collective punishment has evaporated, strong countries are turning more and more expansionist. The scary part is this transition period. We don't know what the rules are anymore because the old ones are unenforceable. I just hope nukes remain off limits while the new order is decided.