A cracking start to the year with Rachel Ellehuus

2026 undoubtedly started with a spectacular show by the US in Venezuela; the question is -- what is it a show of?? Force, for sure. Planes, drones and soldiers all invaded Venezuela in a meticulously planned operation that focused on abducting President Maduro and his wife to the US, to stand drug charges. But beyond force, this was also a show of deep disregard for the world order and for international law. Moreover, in the passing days it has become clear it is a show of disregard for the people of Venezuela: if there existed a flimsy excuse for removing the leader of another country by force it was that Maduro was clearly not the legally elected president of Venezuela as the last election was completely corrupted and that the opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez won by a wide margin. But the Trump Administration has made clear they have no interest in helping him, or indeed 2025 Nobel Prize winner María Machado, in taking office.Ultimately, it is a show of force for greed: for the energy resources of Venezuela.This attack seems to reflect a brutal world of might is right such as existed in the pre-Westphalian era. An emperor wants a resource or a land or obedience, and uses force to get it. Will this now be the case in other states in Latin America, or in Greenland? Will the world order survive this attack? Will NATO? To understand this better, Rachel Ellehuus, Director General of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) joins Ilana Bet-El in a sober, deep and fascinating discussion on these and many other issues.This episode was recorded on 8 January 2026ChaptersInside NATO: what does a defence adviser actually do?Venezuela: what US intervention signals (and what it breaks)The US and the world: Middle East, Africa, Ukraine, RussiaNegotiating with states: diplomacy vs deal-makingAre concerns over Greenland justified?MentionsInterview with former NATO DSACEURRUSI websiteFollowRachel Ellehuus LinkedInIlana Bet-ElInstagram @women_leaders_podcastListen this episode on our YouTube channelOur partner European Leadership Network Twitter LinkedIn Facebook websiteCreditsProduction: Florence FerrandoMusic: Let Good Times Roll, RA from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ra/let-good-times-rollLicense code: ZXIIIJUU2ISPZIJTContribute to the conversation with a comment & a 5-⭐️Reach us on our Instagram and follow for updates @women_leaders_podcastWatch now our episode on Youtube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.