Latin America, Jan. 12 -- The President of the country with the world's largest proven oil reserves, Venezuela, has effectively been cornered by the coercive power of the United States. Yet the President of the United States, leader of the world's largest economy and champion of the slogan "Make America Great Again," has allowed a defining opportunity of the 21st century to slip through his grasp.

Locking up a country's head of state while overlooking the chance to unlock the future is how the current theatre of coercion in Latin America appears. In attempting to secure yesterday's assets, Washington risks forfeiting tomorrow's dominance.

The UN Charter and the Limits of Coercion

This moment compels legal scholars and peace-seeking cit...