For the Virgin Islands, the threats by the Governor of the United States Virgin Islands, seeking White House intervention in an updated yachting fees policy in the British Virgin Islands, is an example.

It is unthinkable, however, that the UK will allow the President of the USA impunity over the Virgin Islands owing to a disagreement between the US Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands. The Greenland conundrum is similar. Both territories, Greenland and the BVI, are overseas territories of European states.

Now, it is best the British Virgin Islands tread softly in this matter. Donald Trump is unpredictable and possesses enormous and untrammelled power.

Yes, balance of power politics has returned. The world, divided into spheres of interest and ruled by regional powers, is back. The name for this culture of power is imperialism.

Imperialism is an old story of power. From the march into the Americas by Spain to the division of Africa and the discovery of routes to the Asian Pacific by Portuguese Navigators, conquest of territory has decided the wealth of kings and the level of suffering of natives and vulnerable groups in the geographies conquered.

The capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was very much part of that play of power termed imperialism- Monroe 2. A powerful neighbour simply walks in and takes what it wants, killing scores of people in that effort.