US Military Strikes on Venezuela: Claims, Causes, and the Deepening Crisis Explained

Mukunda Timilsina 

Former US President Donald Trump has claimed that the United States carried out large-scale military strikes on Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. According to Trump, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were arrested during these operations and taken out of the country.

Trump shared these claims on his social media platform, Truth Social. However, official confirmation of these events remains difficult at this stage. Based on reports emerging from multiple international media outlets, this article explains the current situation, Venezuela’s response, and the deeper political and economic crisis behind these developments.

Venezuela and the United States: Understanding the Geography

Venezuela is a strategically important country located in South America, with Caracas as its capital. To its north lies the Gulf of Mexico, which the United States now officially refers to as the Gulf of America.

Reports suggest that US military action was not limited to Caracas alone. Several other regions were allegedly targeted, though independent verification remains challenging.

Current Situation: Areas Reportedly Hit by Attacks

According to incoming reports:

• Caracas experienced major military activity

• Attacks were also reported in:

° Miranda

° Aragua

° La Guaira

Following the strikes:

• Widespread blackouts were observed

• Fighter jets were seen in the airspace

• Heavy military deployment was reported at ground level

These developments indicate a coordinated and high-intensity military operation.

Venezuela’s Immediate Response

The Venezuelan government responded swiftly. President Nicolás Maduro:

• Declared a nationwide state of emergency

• Described the US action as an “imperialist attack”

Maduro accused the United States of attempting to seize Venezuela’s vast oil and mineral reserves, calling the attack economically motivated rather than humanitarian or security-driven.

The Core Question: Why Venezuela?

To understand the real reason behind the alleged US military action, it is essential to examine Venezuela’s oil reserves.

Venezuela’s Oil Wealth at a Glance

• Proven oil reserves: ~303 billion barrels

• Saudi Arabia: ~267 billion barrels

• United States: ~55 billion barrels

This means Venezuela holds around 18% of the world’s proven crude oil reserves.

Why Heavy Crude Oil Matters

Venezuela’s oil is primarily heavy crude oil, which is:

• Thick and sticky, similar to honey

• More difficult and expensive to refine

• Requires advanced refineries and large investments

The US Gulf Coast refineries are specifically designed to process heavy crude oil. Since oil imports from Venezuela have declined, the US relies on Canada and Mexico, where heavy crude is more expensive.

This makes Venezuelan oil a strategic economic asset, widely believed to be a key factor behind the conflict.

Drug Trafficking Allegations and US Military Pressure

Since Donald Trump returned to power in 2025, the US has repeatedly accused the Maduro administration of:

• Drug trafficking

• Running a “narco-terrorist regime”

While no conclusive public evidence has been presented, these allegations have shaped US policy.

Recent US Actions

• Operation Southern Sphere (2025):

° Deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford

° Presence of multiple combat aircraft

• Seizure of two Venezuelan oil tankers

• Destruction of 30+ boats allegedly used for drug trafficking

These actions significantly escalated tensions.

Venezuela’s Long Economic Decline: A Brief History

From Prosperity to Collapse

Until the 1990s, Venezuela was considered one of Latin America’s strongest economies.

However, after Hugo Chavez came to power in 1999:

• Democratic institutions weakened

• Economic structure deteriorated

• State control over industries increased

After Chávez’s death in 2013, Nicolas Maduro assumed power.

Oil Price Crash and Economic Breakdown

In 2014, global oil prices collapsed. This was devastating for Venezuela because:

60% of government revenue came from oil

Venezuela functioned as a petro-state

As oil revenues declined:

• Government income shrank

• Poverty surged

• Public services collapsed

Humanitarian Crisis by the Numbers

According to estimates up to 2025:

25%–80% of the population lives below the poverty line

• Severe shortages of:

° Food

° Medicines

° Clean drinking water

Mass Migration

• By May 2025, approximately 7.9 million Venezuelans had fled the country

• Most migrated to:

° Colombia

° Peru

° Brazil

This represents one of the largest migration crises in modern history.

Political Repression and Contested Elections

Instead of resolving the crisis, Maduro consolidated power:

• Weakened the National Assembly

• Appointed loyalists to the Supreme Court

• Suppressed dissent

2024 Presidential Election Controversy

• International observers and opposition leaders claimed Gonzalez won

• Maduro declared himself the winner

• The US and several EU countries recognized Gonzalez as president-elect

This led to:

• Mass arrests

• Severe crackdowns on civil liberties

Nobel Prize and the Opposition Movement

In 2025, the Nobel Prize was awarded to María Corina Machado, a leading Venezuelan opposition figure.

• Recognized for her peaceful struggle to restore democracy

• Due to security threats, she lives in hiding

• Her daughter accepted the Nobel Prize on her behalf in December 2025

Hyperinflation and Economic Collapse

• 2018 inflation: Reached millions of percent

• 2024–25 inflation: Around 180–190%

• Since 2014, Venezuela’s economy has shrunk by nearly 75%

US and EU sanctions, combined with falling oil prices, further weakened the economy.

Conclusion: A Crisis Years in the Making

Venezuela has been facing a full-scale political, economic, and humanitarian crisis for over a decade. The alleged US military action did not occur in isolation it followed years of:

• Economic collapse

• Democratic erosion

• Strategic competition over oil

The situation remains fluid, and independent confirmation of recent claims is still awaited. However, the underlying causes of the Venezuela crisis are deeply rooted and long-standing.