In a dramatic and unprecedented escalation that is reshaping the balance of power in the Western Hemisphere, US President Donald Trump announced that the United States had conducted large-scale military operations inside Venezuelan territory, resulting in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife and their evacuation by air. Trump described these strikes as "successful," asserting Washington's ability to resolve "national security" issues in its own backyard. This move coincided with the designation of the Venezuelan regime as a foreign terrorist organization and the imposition of a comprehensive naval blockade on oil shipments to and from the country.
Meanwhile, the capital, Caracas, was rocked by the sound of scattered explosions and plumes of smoke amidst heavy US military aircraft activity. The Venezuelan government, through its foreign minister, described these actions as "official aggression" and a flagrant violation of the UN Charter, reiterating its right to legitimate self-defense. Caracas confirmed in an official statement that the true objective of this attack is to "plunder" Venezuela's vast natural resources, especially given that Venezuela possesses the world's largest proven oil reserves, estimated at 303 billion barrels, in addition to substantial natural gas reserves and mineral resources.
An economic analysis of the crisis reveals that this military intervention came at a time when the Venezuelan oil sector was beginning to recover somewhat, despite the crippling sanctions imposed since 2015. Production recorded significant growth during 2024 and 2025, and exports reached their highest levels in years in September 2025, averaging 1.09 million barrels per day. Observers believe that this "worrying recovery" for Washington, coupled with the close strategic alliances between Caracas and China, Russia, and Iran, accelerated the US decision to address the discrepancy between the enormous reserves and the modest production caused by years of technological isolation and the denial of essential spare parts.
These developments on the ground transcend mere traditional political disputes, reaching the very heart of the "strategic struggle" over global energy resources. While Venezuela's state-owned oil company insists that production continues despite the offensive, Washington is betting that removing Maduro will open the door to massive foreign investment and reconnect Venezuelan oil to the US market under new terms. The night Maduro fell was not simply a military operation; it was a comprehensive realignment of Latin America's geopolitics, placing national sovereignty in direct confrontation with the interests of the great powers in securing global energy resources.
