In recent months, US President Donald Trump His attacks increased rapidly Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, accusing him of promoting drug trafficking and mass migration from the Caribbean nation to the United States.
More recently, Trump has piled on increased pressure Along with a military build-up in the Caribbean over Venezuela, which he calls an anti-drug-trafficking campaign. Caracas says US actions are instead aimed at toppling Maduro’s government.
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Trump held a meeting with his national security team on Monday.Next steps“On Venezuela, according to media reports. Washington’s continued deployment of military assets to the region has raised fears of a possible war.
Last weekend, Maduro told a crowd outside the presidential Miraflores Palace that he wanted peace with the US, but only on the condition of “sovereignty, equality and freedom … We don’t want slave peace, nor colonial peace! Colonies, never! Slaves, never!”
Is America going to war with Venezuela?
In recent weeks, Trump confirmed that he authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations in Venezuela. In addition, it has deployed the world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R Ford, thousands of troops and F-35 military jets to the Caribbean.
On November 20, Trump said that there could be ground attacks in Venezuela. However, some see the president’s comments and operations as preparations for military action, with Trump telling reporters last weekend not to “read anything” into his recent moves.
Venezuela has been holding regular military drills for the past few weeks in preparation for any possible attack.
Why does Trump hate Maduro?
A reminder of Washington’s recent power a Long history Driven by fear of hostile powers near the US border, successive US governments intervened militarily in Latin America.
Since the 1990s, relations between Washington and Caracas have been dominated by tensions with Maduro’s leftist predecessor, Hugo Chávez. Bilateral relations worsened after Maduro came to power after Chávez’s death in 2013.
In recent months, relations have been dominated by US military strikes against alleged Venezuelan drug traffickers in the Caribbean.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio made the allegations in July Maduro of being the “leader of a designated ‘narco-terrorist’ organization” and responsible for “trafficking drugs into the United States and Europe”. He did not provide evidence to support his claim.
Furthermore, experts say that the Cartel de los Soules is not a cartel.
For his part, Maduro is Accused Washington is using the drug as an excuse to replace the offending regime and confiscate Venezuela’s oil.
What action has the Trump administration taken?
The US has deployed 15,000 troops to the region and an aircraft carrier.
There have also been 21 strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and Pacific since September, killing 83 people.
Meanwhile, military experts say the U.S. firepower mobilized in the Caribbean Sea exceeds what is needed for drug-trafficking operations, while Caracas says the U.S. The regime is looking for change To control Venezuela’s vast natural resources, including oil.
Last week a Delaware judge ordered the sale of a Venezuelan oil company Citgo – a Houston-based subsidiary of state-owned oil company Petroleos de Venezuela, SA (PDVSA) – to repay billions of dollars in defaulted loan repayments.
Venezuela on Tuesday condemned the “forced sale” of a US-ordered oil company, which could rob Venezuela of significant foreign revenue.
Elsewhere, Trump declared Venezuela’s airspace was “closed” on November 29. His comments came after the US Federal Aviation Administration warned of “potentially hazardous conditions” in Venezuelan airspace.
Despite that profession Oppose “perpetual wars”.Trump’s recent moves in Venezuela — including the threat of military strikes — indicate a readiness to escalate tensions.
Are boat strikes legal?
Many legal scholars have condemned US attacks in international waters Illegal Under both international and domestic law. The US Congress is investigating whether a second attack on an alleged drug boat in September killed survivors of the initial attack. The White House has defended the attack.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the US attacks on the alleged boats were “not consistent with international law”. He has expressed concern about the rising tension between the US and Venezuela.
Who are Venezuela’s major allies?
Venezuela’s key political allies are united in a shared resistance to US influence in the region. Russia remains its strongest geopolitical backer, providing military cooperation and diplomatic support. China, which is Venezuela’s number one source of oil exports, also provides financial support.
Venezuela and Iran also have a strengthening bond – sharing an anti-Western worldview and in the face of sanctions, both are exploring alternative economic and diplomatic paths.
In Latin America, Venezuela relies on long-standing ideological allies such as Cuba, Nicaragua and Bolivia. These governments consistently defend Caracas in regional institutions and maintain close ties through frameworks such as ALBA-TCP and Petrocaribe.
Although Brazil and neighboring Colombia have left-wing governments, they have refused to recognize Maduro’s 2024 re-election bid. However, he has expressed concern about military threats against Venezuela.
Why is Venezuela not rich?
Venezuela in the world Largest proven oil reservesAn estimated 303 billion barrels in 2023. But only $4 billion worth of crude oil was exported in the same year, far less than other oil-producing countries, largely because US embargo It was imposed during Trump’s first term.
The country’s oil production is dominated by PDVSA, which has faced challenges including aging infrastructure, underinvestment, mismanagement and the effects of sanctions, all of which have limited its ability to fully exploit Venezuela’s vast reserves.
According to figures from the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC), Venezuela exported just $4.05bn worth of crude oil in 2023. This is well below other major exporters, including Saudi Arabia ($181bn), the US ($125bn), and Russia ($122bn).
Import prices have also increased due to restrictions. The country is plagued by commodity shortages and high inflation – which the IMF predicts will reach 600 percent next year. A financial crisis exacerbated by US sanctions has forced it Millions of people fleeing to neighboring countries in recent years.
In 2024, Venezuela’s gross domestic product (GDP) stood at $119.8bnRanked among the smallest economies in Latin America. Venezuela’s economic instability is rooted in years of harsh sanctions as well as its dependence on oil.
What is the international response?
On November 30, Maduro appealed to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to help his country. Counter “Increasing and unlawful threats” from the Trump administration.
In a letter to OPEC members, Venezuelan President Maduro said, “I hope I can count on your best efforts to stop this escalating aggression” So far, none of the group’s members have reacted publicly.
On November 25, Colombian President Gustavo Petro told CNN that Trump “doesn’t think about democratizing Venezuela, let alone narco-trafficking”. He added that only a small part of the global drug trade flows through the Caribbean country.
What could happen next?
Asked about the possibility of deploying US troops to Venezuelan soil on November 17, Trump told reporters at the White House, “I don’t rule it out. I don’t rule anything out. We just have to take care of Venezuela.”
Then, on Monday, Reuters reported that Trump offered Maduro safe passage out of Venezuela during a Nov. 21 call. Maduro reportedly told Trump he was willing to leave Venezuela if he and his family members received a full legal amnesty.
Venezuela’s president has requested the lifting of sanctions on more than 100 Venezuelan government officials, many of whom the US has accused of human rights abuses, drug trafficking or corruption.
Trump denied most of his requests on the call, but told Maduro he had one week to leave Venezuela with family members for a destination of his choice. Al Jazeera, however, could not independently verify the report.