President Donald Trump has recently launched a sharp attack on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, accusing him of stoking drug trafficking and causing mass emigration from the Caribbean.
Trump has launched an anti-drug trafficking campaign against Venezuela in recent months by increasing pressure and mounting military spending in the Caribbean Sea. Caracas claims that US actions are merely intended to overthrow Maduro’s government.
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According to media reports, Trump met with his team for “next steps” on Venezuela on Monday. Concerns about a potential war have been raised by Washington’s continued deployment of military assets in the area.
Maduro stated to a crowd outside the Miraflores Palace last weekend that he wanted to have “sovereignty, equality, and freedom” with the US, but only under the pretext of “sovereignty, equality, and freedom.” Never, ever, Colonia! Never, ever, “slaves”!
Is US-Venezuela on the verge of war with Venezuela?
Trump’s confirmation of his approval of the CIA carrying out secret operations in Venezuela was made in recent weeks. He has also deployed the largest aircraft carrier in the world, the USS Gerald R. Ford, to the Caribbean with thousands of soldiers and F-35 military jets.
Trump stated on November 20 that Venezuelan land attacks were on the horizon. Trump told reporters last weekend not to “read anything” into his recent actions, even though some may view the president’s remarks and operations as a military action preparation.
Venezuela has been conducting regular military exercises to prepare for any potential attacks over the past few weeks.
Trump’s opposition to Maduro: Why?
Washington’s recent display of force recalls a a long history of military interventions by successive US governments, frequently motivated by fear of hostile powers close to US borders.
Washington and Caracas have been tense ever since the 1990s due to tensions linked to Hugo Chavez, Maduro’s left-wing predecessor. Following Chavez’s passing in 2013, the bilateral relationship deteriorated even more.
Relations between US military operations in recent months and alleged Venezuelan drug smugglers in the Caribbean have dominated.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio alleged Maduro to be responsible for “trafficking drugs into the United States and Europe” and the “leader of the designated ‘narcoterrorist’ organization Cartel de los Soles” in a statement in July. He disproved his assertion with no supporting evidence.
Additionally, experts assert that Cartel de los Soles is not a cartel.
Maduro claims that Washington used the drug war as a pretext to smuggle Venezuelan oil and orchestrates regime change.
What steps has the Trump administration taken?
In the area, the US has deployed an aircraft carrier and amassed 15, 000 troops.
Up to 83 people have been killed by it since September when it launched at least 21 strikes on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean and the Pacific.
Meanwhile, Caracas claims that the US is seeking regime change while the US’s current arsenal in the Caribbean Sea far exceeds what is required for a drug-trafficking operation.
A Delaware judge ordered the sale of Venezuelan oil company Citgo, a Houston-based subsidiary of the state-owned oil company Petroleos de Venezuela, SA (PDVSA), last week to make up for billions of dollars in debt that had been owed.
Venezuela on Tuesday denounced Venezuela’s opposition to the oil company’s “forced sale,” which would obliterate Venezuela of important foreign earnings.
Trump  also stated that Venezuelan airspace had been “closed” on November 29. His comments came after the US Federal Aviation Administration issued a warning about a “potentially hazardous situation” in Venezuelan airspace.
Trump’s recent actions in Venezuela, including the threat of military strikes, indicate a willingness to cause tensions, despite his professing opposition to “forever wars.”
Are boat strikes permitted?
The US strikes in international waters are illegal under both domestic and international law, according to numerous legal scholars. The US Congress is looking into whether survivors of an initial attack perished in a second attack on an alleged drug boat in September. The deadly attack has been defended by the White House.
The US strikes on alleged boats are “not compatible with international law,” according to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. He has expressed his concern about Venezuela’s growing hostility.
Who are the main supporters of Venezuela?
A common resistance to US influence in the region brings Venezuela’s top political allies together. Russia offers diplomatic support and military support, continuing to be its strongest geopolitical supporter. Venezuela’s top oil exporter, China, also has economic support.
In addition to being anti-Western, Venezuela and Iran are both looking for alternative economic and diplomatic channels in the face of sanctions.
Venezuela has long-standing ideological allies in Latin America, including Cuba, Nicaragua, and Bolivia. These governments consistently support Caracas in regional bodies and maintain close ties through programs like ALBA-TCP and Petrocaribe.
Brazil and Colombia’s governments are left-wing-run, but they have rejected Maduro’s reelection in 2024. They have, however, expressed concern about Venezuela’s military threats.
Why is Venezuela not wealthier?
Venezuela has the largest proven oil reserves in the world, with 303 billion barrels expected to be produced by 2023. However, it only exported $4 billion worth of crude oil that year, which is largely attributable to US sanctions imposed during Trump’s first term, which was significantly lower than other oil-producing nations.
PDVSA, which produces the majority of Venezuela’s oil, has experienced difficulties such as ageing infrastructure, underinvestment, mismanagement, and sanctions, all of which have prevented the country from fully exploiting its vast reserves.
Venezuela exported only $4.05 billion worth of crude oil in 2023, according to data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC). Saudi Arabia ($181 billion), the US ($125 billion), and Russia ($122 billion) are among the major exporters with this figure.
The cost of imports has also increased as a result of the sanctions. The IMF projects that the nation’s goods shortages and rabid inflation will reach 600 percent in the coming year. Millions of people have recently been forced to flee to neighboring countries as a result of the economic crisis, which has been made worse by the US sanctions.
Venezuela’s gross domestic product (GDP) was $119.8 billion in 2024, making it one of Latin America’s smallest economies. Years of severe sanctions and a reliance on oil have contributed to Venezuela’s economic instability.
What has the international response been?
Maduro requested assistance from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) on November 30 to assist his nation in reversing the Trump administration’s “growing and illegal threats.”
Venezuela’s President Maduro wrote, “I hope I can count on your best efforts to stop this growing aggression,” in a letter to OPEC members.
Gustavo Petro, the president of Colombia, claimed on November 25 that Trump is “not thinking about the democratization of Venezuela, let alone the narco-trafficking.” The Caribbean nation, according to him, handles only a small portion of the world’s drug trade.
What might come next?
Trump responded to reporters at the White House on November 17 when asked about the possibility of deploying US forces there. “I don’t rule out that,” he said. Nothing is ruled out by me. Venezuela needs to be looked after only.
Then, on Monday, Reuters reported that Trump called on November 21 and offered to let Maduro leave Venezuela for a safe ride. According to allegations, Maduro allegedly told Trump that he wanted to leave Venezuela if his family received full legal amnesty.
More than 100 Venezuelan government officials are reportedly facing sanctions after the Venezuelan president is asked to remove them, many of whom the US accuse of human rights violations, drug trafficking, or corruption.
Source: Aljazeera
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