(United States, 4th) On the 3rd, the United States launched a “large-scale strike” against Venezuela, arresting Venezuelan President Maduro and his wife, and transporting the two by warship to New York for trial.
According to an analysis report by Xinhua News Agency, since President Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, he has made a series of policy declarations: “taking back” the Panama Canal, insisting the U.S. “must have” Greenland, turning Canada into the 51st state of the United States, and listing the Western Hemisphere as a key priority of U.S. national security. In the Trump administration’s strategic vision, the U.S. aims to consolidate and expand its “dominance in the Western Hemisphere,” with Venezuela serving as an important entry point.
First, from a military geography perspective, Venezuela is located between the Caribbean Sea and the South American continent, close to U.S. strategic waters. The United States has already deployed substantial naval forces in the Caribbean, and can quickly carry out sea and air strikes and support from bases in Puerto Rico and other locations. The U.S. possesses strong reconnaissance and long-range strike capabilities in the waters surrounding Venezuela, enabling it to launch maritime attacks and special operations against Venezuela. If a regime change is achieved in Venezuela, the country may become a “military influence point” for the U.S., facilitating carrier-based, aerial, and intelligence operations across the Caribbean and deep into South America, while also helping establish a relatively stable “buffer zone” in the region.
Second, natural resources are a significant incentive. Venezuela is extremely rich in oil, natural gas, and mineral resources. During his first presidential term, Trump attempted to overthrow the Maduro government. Analysts believe that after returning to power, Trump is seeking to topple the Maduro government under the pretext of combating “narcoterrorism”, with the aim of installing a pro-U.S. regime and gaining control or re-arranging Venezuela’s energy and key mineral resources.
Trump was almost blunt about this in a press conference on the 3rd, declaring his intention to “take over” Venezuela, enabling American oil companies to make major expansions in Venezuela and invest in its energy infrastructure. He also openly stated: “We will extract a great deal of wealth from under (Venezuela), and this wealth will belong to the Venezuelan people and also to foreigners who were previously in Venezuela. This wealth will also flow to the United States as compensation for the harm this country has caused us.”
Furthermore, Venezuela has long suffered from U.S. isolation and sanctions, and has been mired in economic crisis and hardships affecting people’s livelihoods. Discontented military factions within Maduro’s ranks and a repeatedly frustrated opposition could both be exploited by the U.S. to achieve regime change at relatively low cost. The Trump administration also brands its actions in Venezuela as measures against “narcoterrorism” and to “stem the flow of drugs to the U.S.”, presenting them externally as security or law enforcement operations.
Finally, in the Trump administration’s view, to realize an “America First in the Western Hemisphere” policy, the U.S. must control or counter potential anti-American forces in Latin America. By choosing Venezuela as a breakthrough point, the U.S. hopes to trigger a shock effect, exert strategic deterrence on other Latin American countries, and thereby expand American influence and strategic space in the region.
Finally, in the Trump administration’s view, to realize an “America First in the Western Hemisphere” policy, the U.S. must control or counter potential anti-American forces in Latin America. By choosing Venezuela as a breakthrough point, the U.S. hopes to trigger a shock effect, exert strategic deterrence on other Latin American countries, and thereby expand American influence and strategic space in the region.
The United States has always regarded Latin America as its own “backyard.” In 1823, then U.S. President Monroe proposed the “Monroe Doctrine,” warning the European powers not to intervene in American affairs. During Trump’s second term, the “Monroe Doctrine” has returned to the core of U.S. foreign policy with great fanfare. On the 3rd, Trump declared that his administration had “gone far beyond” the Monroe Doctrine, would never forget it, and would long “dominate” the Western Hemisphere.
However, Latin American countries have never forgotten the inglorious history of U.S.-created political and economic turmoil in the region. From the vice president to the defense minister, several senior officials in Maduro’s government have expressed rejection, condemnation, and resistance to the U.S. invasion. The international community has expressed deep concern and harsh condemnation regarding the Trump administration’s large-scale military operation against Venezuela and the removal of Maduro, and voiced great worries about the prospects for Venezuela’s political situation and heightened risk of unrest in the region.