Prepared Conditions for Potential U.S. Military Action Against Venezuela
In the Caribbean Sea, tensions between the United States and Venezuela have escalated following a controversial incident on September 2, 2021. The US military reportedly blew up a small motor vessel, allegedly from Venezuela, which was said to be carrying illicit drugs destined for the US.
The vessel's crew, according to President Donald Trump, were members of the Tren de Aragua cartel, a group accused of mass murder, drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and acts of violence across the US. However, it's worth noting that the US intelligence community refutes claims that the Tren de Aragua is controlled by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro or operates as a highly functioning international narcotics cartel.
The incident occurred without any attempt to stop and search the boat in international waters, a move that has raised questions and concerns. The US has deployed approximately 4,500 troops to the Caribbean, but some experts argue that this may not be enough to take Venezuela, even if the numbers were to be multiplied manyfold.
The Venezuelan government, led by Maduro, has responded to the incident with firm resistance. Maduro has stated that no one believes Trump's and Rubio's lies, and he has accused the US of wanting Venezuelan oil and gas for free. He also emphasized that the US aggression on Venezuela is not about drug trafficking, but rather about regime change and regional control.
This sentiment is shared by many regional leaders and organizations, as well as Russia, Iran, and China, who have condemned the US military buildup and expressed support for Venezuela's sovereignty. The Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela, which represents hope for humanity but a threat to the US imperial project, has also been a source of contention.
The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has used the incident to boast about the "full power of America, the full might of the United States." However, resistance by Venezuela has stiffened to meet the challenge, with civilian-military unity remaining strong and millions of civilian reservists enlisting in the Bolivarian National Militia.
Joe Emersberger, co-author of "Extraordinary Threat: The US Empire, the Media, and Twenty Years of Coup Attempts in Venezuela," and Roger D. Harris, a founding member of the Venezuela Solidarity Network and on the secretariat of the US Peace Council, have been vocal critics of the US actions. They argue that the US is seeking to crush any alternative to its order, and the Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela poses a significant threat to this agenda.
The UN World Drug Report of 2025 features minimal mention of Venezuela, emphasizing that it plays a marginal role in global drug trafficking. Despite this, the US military's actions against the Venezuelan vessel mark a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict, with direct military confrontation becoming a possibility. Trump ominously boasted at his press conference that there is more where that came from for Venezuela.
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