US President Donald Trump has been ramping up pressure on Venezuela's leader, President Nicolás Maduro. The Trump administration has doubled the reward for information leading to Maduro's capture, and its warships are within striking distance of Venezuela. Dozens of people have been killed in attacks on boats alleged to have been transporting drugs from the South American country.
Trump reportedly also gave Maduro an ultimatum to leave Venezuela, in a phone call the two men had on 21 November.
### Who is Nicolás Maduro?
Nicolás Maduro rose to prominence under the leadership of left-wing President Hugo Chávez and his United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV). Maduro, a former bus driver and union leader, succeeded Chávez and has been president since 2013. During the 26 years that Chávez and Maduro have been in power, their party has gained control of key institutions, including the National Assembly, much of the judiciary, and the electoral council.
In 2024, the electoral council declared Maduro the winner of the presidential election, even though voting tallies collected by the opposition suggested that their candidate, Edmundo González, had won by a landslide. The US is one of many countries that declared the election illegitimate and recognized González as 'president-elect'. But with Maduro firmly in control of the military, the police, and the legislature, he has remained in power while González has fled into exile for fear of arrest.
### Why is Trump focusing on Venezuela?
Trump has made stopping immigration a priority during his second term in office and blames Maduro for the arrival of a large number of Venezuelan migrants in the US. Since 2013, close to eight million Venezuelans are estimated to have fled the economic crisis and political repression exacerbated under Maduro. Most have fled to Latin American countries, but hundreds of thousands have gone to the US.
Without providing evidence, Trump has accused Maduro of 'emptying his prisons and insane asylums' and 'forcing' its inmates to migrate to the US. Additionally, Trump has focused on combating the influx of drugs, especially fentanyl and cocaine, into the US.
### Why has the US sent warships to the Caribbean?
The US has deployed 15,000 troops and a range of aircraft carriers and destroyers to the Caribbean, aiming to stop the flow of fentanyl and cocaine to the US. The deployment is reported to be the largest since the US invaded Panama in 1989. The Trump administration claims it is in a non-international armed conflict with the alleged drug traffickers, whom they label as 'narco terrorists'. However, legal experts argue that the designation does not justify the military actions taken against them.
In response to Trump's ultimatum to Maduro, the US has declared the airspace around Venezuela closed. There are concerns about potential military strikes, with Trump's secretary stating that 'there's options at the president's disposal that are on the table'. Military analysts note that the current troop and ship deployment far exceeds what would be necessary for a counternarcotics operation.
### Is Venezuela flooding the US with drugs?
Counternarcotic experts indicate that Venezuela plays a relatively minor role in global drug trafficking, primarily serving as a transit point for drugs. Meanwhile, Colombia remains the largest cocaine producer. According to a 2020 US Drug Enforcement report, most cocaine reaching the US is trafficked via the Pacific, not through Venezuela.
### Could the US carry out strikes on Venezuela?
While Trump has confirmed communication with Maduro, details of their conversation remain undisclosed. Reports suggest that Trump offered Maduro and his family safe passage out of Venezuela, which Maduro declined. Following Trump's deadline, Secretary of State officials hinted that military actions against Venezuelan drug traffickers 'by land' are possible, signaling potential escalation in US military involvement in the region.
Trump reportedly also gave Maduro an ultimatum to leave Venezuela, in a phone call the two men had on 21 November.
### Who is Nicolás Maduro?
Nicolás Maduro rose to prominence under the leadership of left-wing President Hugo Chávez and his United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV). Maduro, a former bus driver and union leader, succeeded Chávez and has been president since 2013. During the 26 years that Chávez and Maduro have been in power, their party has gained control of key institutions, including the National Assembly, much of the judiciary, and the electoral council.
In 2024, the electoral council declared Maduro the winner of the presidential election, even though voting tallies collected by the opposition suggested that their candidate, Edmundo González, had won by a landslide. The US is one of many countries that declared the election illegitimate and recognized González as 'president-elect'. But with Maduro firmly in control of the military, the police, and the legislature, he has remained in power while González has fled into exile for fear of arrest.
### Why is Trump focusing on Venezuela?
Trump has made stopping immigration a priority during his second term in office and blames Maduro for the arrival of a large number of Venezuelan migrants in the US. Since 2013, close to eight million Venezuelans are estimated to have fled the economic crisis and political repression exacerbated under Maduro. Most have fled to Latin American countries, but hundreds of thousands have gone to the US.
Without providing evidence, Trump has accused Maduro of 'emptying his prisons and insane asylums' and 'forcing' its inmates to migrate to the US. Additionally, Trump has focused on combating the influx of drugs, especially fentanyl and cocaine, into the US.
### Why has the US sent warships to the Caribbean?
The US has deployed 15,000 troops and a range of aircraft carriers and destroyers to the Caribbean, aiming to stop the flow of fentanyl and cocaine to the US. The deployment is reported to be the largest since the US invaded Panama in 1989. The Trump administration claims it is in a non-international armed conflict with the alleged drug traffickers, whom they label as 'narco terrorists'. However, legal experts argue that the designation does not justify the military actions taken against them.
In response to Trump's ultimatum to Maduro, the US has declared the airspace around Venezuela closed. There are concerns about potential military strikes, with Trump's secretary stating that 'there's options at the president's disposal that are on the table'. Military analysts note that the current troop and ship deployment far exceeds what would be necessary for a counternarcotics operation.
### Is Venezuela flooding the US with drugs?
Counternarcotic experts indicate that Venezuela plays a relatively minor role in global drug trafficking, primarily serving as a transit point for drugs. Meanwhile, Colombia remains the largest cocaine producer. According to a 2020 US Drug Enforcement report, most cocaine reaching the US is trafficked via the Pacific, not through Venezuela.
### Could the US carry out strikes on Venezuela?
While Trump has confirmed communication with Maduro, details of their conversation remain undisclosed. Reports suggest that Trump offered Maduro and his family safe passage out of Venezuela, which Maduro declined. Following Trump's deadline, Secretary of State officials hinted that military actions against Venezuelan drug traffickers 'by land' are possible, signaling potential escalation in US military involvement in the region.
