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.
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, despite widespread allegations of corruption and illegitimacy.
Amidst Maduro's rule, the US has turned its focus towards combating immigration and drug trafficking, with many fleeing Venezuela due to the ongoing economic crisis and political repression. Approximately eight million Venezuelans have fled since 2013.
Trump has accused Maduro of emptying prisons and forcing inmates to migrate to the US. Additionally, various Venezuelan criminal organizations have been linked to drug trafficking, leading to the US designating certain groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations.
In response to the strategic deployment of US military assets in the Caribbean, Trump has justified actions as a means of combating the flow of fentanyl and cocaine into the US and targeting alleged narco-terrorists.
Legal experts caution, however, that the strikes against suspected drug boats might contravene international law.
In conclusion, the relationship between Venezuela and the US has reached a pivotal moment, with the potential for military conflict looming as Trump continues to assert pressure on Maduro.
