Warships, Submarines, and a Shadow War Off Venezuela’s Coast
President Donald Trump, who once vowed to avoid “foreign wars,” is now deploying warships, surveillance aircraft, and even an attack submarine to the Caribbean—raising alarms that the U.S. may be orchestrating a covert campaign of regime change against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Venezuelan soldiers stand with national flags amid rising U.S. military pressure. (Credit: The New York Times)
Why Now? The Trump Administration’s Stated Reasons
- Drug Trafficking Allegations: U.S. claims Venezuelan boats are smuggling narcotics—though no public evidence has been presented
- Maduro as a “Cartel Leader”: Secretary of State Marco Rubio labels him a “fugitive of American justice”
- Election Fraud: Independent monitors say Maduro lost the 2024 election but refused to step down
- Hemispheric Security: New U.S. defense doctrine prioritizes “protecting the Western Hemisphere”
What’s at Stake?
Venezuela sits on the world’s largest oil reserves and vast deposits of gold and rare minerals. But more than resources, it’s about geopolitical control in Latin America—a region Trump now treats as America’s exclusive sphere of influence.
| U.S. Action | Details |
|---|---|
| Military Deployment | Warships, P-8 surveillance planes, and nuclear attack submarine in Caribbean |
| Naval Strikes | U.S. attacked Venezuelan boats, killing 17—claiming they were drug-runners |
| Diplomatic Pressure | Backing opposition leader María Corina Machado, who welcomes U.S. intervention |
| Regional Strategy | Also supporting right-wing allies in Argentina (Milei) and Brazil (Bolsonaro) |
Venezuelan Fears: “You Turn Venezuela into Haiti”
Many Venezuelans—despite despising Maduro—fear U.S. intervention could trigger chaos:
- Armed groups (military, Colombian guerrillas, paramilitaries) could battle for control
- State collapse could unleash humanitarian disaster
- Historical trauma from past U.S. interventions in Latin America fuels deep skepticism
“You kill Maduro, you turn Venezuela into Haiti,” warned one Caracas businessman.
The Ideological Shift
This marks a dramatic pivot from Trump’s 2016 and 2020 anti-interventionist rhetoric. Analysts say his current approach reflects:
- A hardline stance against socialism in the Western Hemisphere
- Appeals to Hispanic voters opposed to regimes like Venezuela and Cuba
- A broader “America First” doctrine that redefines “foreign wars” as only those outside U.S. borders
As Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth finalizes a new national defense strategy centered on the Western Hemisphere, Venezuela may become the testing ground for a new era of assertive U.S. regional dominance.
Global Reactions
While Russia and China have condemned U.S. actions, regional responses are mixed. Some Latin American governments remain silent, wary of antagonizing Washington. Others warn of a dangerous precedent.
