Why Did Trump Send His Warships to Venezuela? |
Photograph Source: U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class Johnnie R. Robbins – Public Domain
Ever since Hugo Chávez came to power in 1998, the United States has attempted to overthrow the Bolivarian Revolution. They have triedeverything short of a full-scale military invasion: a military coup, selecting a substitute president, cutting off access to the global financial system, imposing layers of sanctions, sabotaging the electricity grid, sending in mercenaries, and attempting to assassinate its leaders. If you can think of a method to overthrow a government, the United States has likely tried it against Venezuela.
However, in 2025, the escalation became unmistakable. The U.S. sent its warships to patrol Venezuela’s coast, began sinking small boats and killing those on board as they left the South American mainland, and seized an oil tanker bound for Cuba. The quantity of attacks on Venezuela has increased, suggesting the quality of the threats has now reached a different magnitude. It feels as if the United States is preparing for a full-blown invasion of the country.
Donald Trump came to office saying that he was opposed to military interventions that did not further U.S. interests, which is why he calledthe illegal U.S. war on Iraq a waste of “blood and treasure”. This does not mean Trump is against the use of the U.S. military —he deployed it in Afghanistan........