What’s Going On?
Since late August this year, the U.S. has boosted its military presence in the Caribbean off Venezuela’s coast, while ramping up sanctions, blockades and threats. This December, the White House ordered the U.S. military to focus almost exclusively on enforcing a quarantine of Venezuelan oil for the next two months, Reuters reported this week, citing a U.S. official. 😲
Drug-Trafficking or Something More?
The U.S. has launched dozens of strikes on vessels in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean, claiming they were carrying drugs. According to U.S. government figures, over 100 people have died in these operations. Washington frames this as a showdown against drug cartels—but critics, including U.S. lawmakers from both parties, question the strikes’ legality and real intent.
Is Oil the True Motive?
Last week, President Donald Trump announced a full and total blockade of Venezuelan oil tankers, and the U.S. has already seized two. Trump himself hinted that the goal probably would be to remove President Nicolás Maduro, saying it would be smart for Maduro to step down. Meanwhile, Venezuelan officials accuse Washington of extortion, arguing the real aim is grabbing Venezuela’s massive oil reserves—estimated at 303 billion barrels, the world’s largest.
Echoes of Resource Imperialism
Experts warn that this is not just about drugs or democracy. They see it as resource imperialism, where U.S. policy uses force or sanctions to lock down energy supplies. The playbook feels familiar: critics compare it to the Iraq war, where regime-change talk mixed with oil interests left a controversial legacy. 🤔
As tensions rise, the big question remains: is this a genuine counternarcotics campaign or a power play for one of the world’s richest oil prizes? The answer could reshape geopolitics and global energy markets in 2026.
Reference(s):
Explainer: What is behind U.S.' escalating pressure on Venezuela?
cgtn.com
