US Military Action in Venezuela

November 25, 2025
Sarah Kumar

This year, tensions between the US and Venezuela have escalated, with the US holding a military buildup in the Caribbean. The US has held a campaign against President Maduro’s government and has conducted many airstrikes against alleged drug trafficking boats and ships.

The US does not see Maduro as Venezuela’s rightful president because it believes that electoral fraud was committed, and it seeks to promote democracy. As a result, the US has deployed a large number of military forces, including naval and aircraft carrier strike groups. Another goal the US has in this is in “Operation Southern Spear,” to counter narcotics. In support of that, the US forces have conducted multiple deadly strikes on suspected drug vessels, which have killed many already. Human rights experts and others in the international community are criticizing this as extrajudicial killings.

That escalated into more lethal strikes against alleged drug-trafficking boats, and my President Trump authorized covert CIA operations inside Venezuela in October. They also expanded the strike's geographic reach. On October 21, they launched their first strike in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, whereas all previous ones had been limited to the Caribbean. And by the end of October, at least 83 deaths had been reported as a result of these strikes, of which at least 14 had been reported. The show of force by the US also increased in October, with the US having amassed 4000 troops on the coast and another 5000 on standby in Puerto Rico. Not just that, but the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group, which is the world’s largest carrier group, was deployed, showing the severity of the situation.

On November 24th, the US officially named the “Cartel de los Soles.”, which, along with the “Tren de Aragua,” is a drug cartel the US stands against and attempts to take down, as a foreign terrorist organization(FTO). By designating this, the US has legal avenues for action.

Venezuela has responded by denouncing the US actions, calling them imperialist aggression and a “ridiculous hoax.” Venezuela has also started conducting its own military drills and mobilizing its military. Furthermore, Venezuela has requested an emergency UN Security Council meeting

A CBS News poll found that over 60% of Americans don’t think the Trump Administration is justified. Internationally, some European nations are concerned with the legality of and have even limited their intelligence sharing with the US. Collectively, the UN has expressed its disapproval and sees it as a violation of international law.

The US has announced a new operational phase in Venezuela, keeping its “do everything possible” approach, which might clash with the Maduro government’s “guerrilla-style” resistance, which could cause a prolonged conflict.