The Take 2025 in Review: Is Trump trying to start a war with Venezuela?
Dec 30, 2025
In this discussion, Alessandro Rampietti, an Al Jazeera English correspondent based in Colombia, explores the tense military situation near Venezuela. He analyzes U.S. claims against President Maduro regarding drug trafficking and the implications of military buildups in the region. Alessandro questions whether these actions are genuinely about drug wars or signal a wider push for intervention. He also highlights the split in Venezuelan opposition responses and the historical consequences of U.S. military strategies in Latin America.
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Secretive Military Directive
- The Trump administration issued a secretive directive letting the U.S. military operate against Caribbean drug cartels and groups labeled as terrorists.
- Specific operational details remain unclear, making the mission's true scope ambiguous.
Heavy Naval Posture Near Venezuela
- The deployment includes major warships, Marines, at least one nuclear submarine, and operations near Curaçao and Trinidad and Tobago.
- Such assets signal serious land-attack capability far beyond simple drug-interdiction needs.
Accusations Versus Evidence
- The U.S. accuses Nicolás Maduro of running or benefiting from Venezuelan drug trafficking and labels his government illegitimate.
- Rampietti notes there is corruption and involvement by officials but no definitive 'smoking gun' tying Maduro to a cartel structure.