Today’s U.S.–Venezuela tensions aren’t just about a single strike or a single policy decision, they’re the result of years of political decay, economic mismanagement, and a long-running

On January 3, 2026, at two o’clock in the morning, the United States declared war on Venezuela by bombing several strategic sectors of the capital and kidnapping the elected president, Nicolás Maduro.

US President Donald Trump (L) has accused Venezuela under Nicolas Maduro of using oil money to finance 'drug terrorism, human trafficking, murder and kidnapping' PDVSA is Venezuela's state oil company This screen grab taken from a video posted on the X ...

Caracas (CNN) — Venezuela is not seeking a military confrontation with the United States or any other regional actor, its Foreign Minister Yván Gil told CNN in a rare interview, as tensions rise with Washington, including over the recent deadly US Navy ...

What began in early September as a series of American airstrikes on boats in the Caribbean—which U.S. officials alleged were trafficking drugs from Venezuela—now seems to have morphed into a campaign to overthrow Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro.

A firefighter walks past a destroyed anti-aircraft unit at La Carlota military air base after U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States has struck Venezuela and captured its leader, Nicolás Maduro, in Caracas, Venezuela, January 3, 2026.

CARACAS, Venezuela — A United States Air Force veteran, who the U.S. government had determined to be wrongfully detained in Venezuela, was released from custody Tuesday. Joseph St. Clair was handed over to U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy for ...

Sign up for our newsletter about national security here. President Donald Trump gathered top advisers and military aides around the Resolute Desk early last month ...

8. Mention any two reasons why the United States attacked Venezuela. The U.S. said it wanted to stop drug trafficking and protect its national security. Analysts also say oil interests and political control were important reasons. 9. Why is Venezuela’s oil important in global politics?

Venezuela’s attorney general urged steadfastness in the face of U.S. “state terrorism.” After President Trump’s renewed threats on Greenland, some European leaders pushed back against his might-makes-right vision.