Since the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States, the tensions between the United States and Venezuela have quickly escalated. While campaigning in 2024, Trump and his vice president James David Vance seized on a news story about a Venezuelan gang named Tren de Aragua seizing control of an apartment complex in Aurora (a claim that has now been widely debunked). Promising to rid the US of Tren de Aragua’s presence, Trump has deported hundreds of alleged Venezuelan gang members and, as of September 2025, has started air strikes against Venezuelan vessels in the Caribbean.
fueled by drug trafficking disputes and the Presidential leadership of Nicholás Maduro. Once economic partners, the two nations have faced a strained relationship that has been shaping up in recent years.
Since 2005, the United States has imposed economic sanctions on Venezuela, aimed to curbing corruption, drug trafficking, and human rights abuse. Despite these measures, Venezuela has quickly become a major hub for cocaine shipments through the Caribbean.
The US Department of Justice has linked elements of the Venezuelan government to the “Cártel de Los Soles.” Washington has also questioned Maduro himself of involvement in cartel operations.
Relations have soured further, since the 2019 Venezuela election, the US rejected Maduro instead recognizing the opposing leader Juan Guaido. Under Maduro’s leadership, the crisis has deepened, leading to more than eight million Venezuelans fleeing the country.
U.S. Military Operations
Tensions escalated recently after the U.S. military intercepted a boat allegedly tied to major drug trafficking in the Southern Caribbean. A strike on the vessel has killed 11 people in what the United States described as “international waters.”
Previous to the attack, the US military had deployed over 4,000 Marines and sailors to the waters surrounding Latin America as apart of its anti-narcotics operation. Washington framed the operation as an effort to pressure Maduro, who faced ongoing drug trafficking accusations.
Maduro claims, “an extravagant threat… absolutely criminal, bloody.” His government has rejected U.S. claims and Washington’s allegations.
Government Responses
The Venezuelan government has been relatively calm, vowing to defend its sovereignty. “We will fight if you dare to set foot in Venezuela…” Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López described. Venezuela seeks peace, while the U.S. military activity is proactive.
The United States has defended their actions as part of blocking international drug shipments. In a statement following the attack Trump clarified, “Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America. BEWARE!”