Comment by chasil

Let's pretend that the International Criminal Court were to apprehend Donald Trump and take him to the Hague for trial today over this event.

His claims to control the country and its resources would be inadmissible as charges, because they have not happened. They would be admissible to establish intent, but that would lead to lesser charges.

While I realize that the lower limit of a legal definition of the events of the last twenty-four hours is in the thoughts of very few, no overt actions of force have been taken as yet to obtain those goals.

That lower limit is extra-judicial kidnapping.

Edit: if someone involved in an assault says the words "I want to kill you," then that can establish intent and trigger, among other things, a restraining order, or perhaps elevate the charge to aggravated assault.

The words themselves cannot be used to prosecute for murder.

In the same way, there are many ways that nations inflict violence upon one another, and I think "invasion" is premature, but certainly possible.

However, none but Maduro and his wife were taken, so perhaps the force of arms will be judged sufficient.