The information is very sensational, says Blanck, a professor of North American studies at Uppsala University.
"It's a huge effort to go in and kidnap another country's head of state. If that's true, it's of course a major military success," he says.
The action is a violation of international law, believes Dag Blanck.
It is likely a violation of international law. The US under Trump does not see itself as bound by international conventions. There is a great deal of resistance to international organizations and conventions. This is "might makes right".
New-old foreign policy
In 2003, the US overthrew Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, and in 1989, the US invaded Panama and imprisoned President Manuel Noriega. But when the US has historically wanted to remove foreign leaders, it has usually been indirect or covert.
The US has previously attempted to kill foreign heads of state. Fidel Castro was subjected to many assassination attempts by the CIA, and the US then passed a law prohibiting the assassination of foreign heads of state.
The incident can be seen as part of the United States' new, aggressive foreign policy during Donald Trump's second term, Blanck explains.
Over the past year, the United States has begun to play the role it previously had in Latin America. It dates back to the so-called Monroe Doctrine in the 1820s, which declared that Latin America was an American sphere of interest.
“Has weakened”
The matter can also be seen in light of Trump's position at home.
This is a great military triumph that he will surely be very proud to use. His standing in American public opinion has weakened recently, as the economy has been the big issue.
What will happen to Maduro now is difficult to know.
Can he be brought to justice? It's very difficult to know. We'll have to wait and see.
