The removal of a sitting head of state by a foreign military force raised immediate concerns about sovereignty. It also highlighted a basic truth that powerful nations often overlook. Maintaining control over another country is a costly undertaking. It drains money, personnel, political capital, and public credibility. Every occupation requires constant surveillance, logistical support, and the management of local resistance. The cost is measured not only in budgets but in human lives and long-term instability.
The invasion of Venezuela fits this pattern. Instead of creating security, it created uncertainty. Instead of projecting authority, it exposed how costly and unsustainable foreign control becomes once the initial show of force ends. The deaths of civilians and the forced removal of a leader illustrate the burden of trying to manage another nation through military intervention.