School of War Ep 243: Joshua S. Treviño—Is Trump After Regime Change in Venezuela?
Oct 28, 2025
Joshua S. Treviño, Chief Transformation Officer at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, dives into the complexities of U.S. military strategy in Venezuela. He unpacks the state-cartel synthesis, shedding light on how drug cartels influence governance. Treviño discusses the legal justifications for military strikes and whether regime change is a goal. With insights on the Venezuelan opposition's readiness and Colombia's relationship with the U.S., he highlights the broader implications of military action in the region and the domestic impact of cartel integration.
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State-Cartel Synthesis Explains Regional Threats
- State-cartel synthesis fuses formal governments with transnational criminal logistics firms in the hemisphere.
- That fusion makes the regime and cartels mutually indispensable and changes how to counter them.
Military Mission Recentered On Homeland Defense
- The administration reoriented military purpose toward direct homeland defense and maritime counter-cartel operations.
- That shift explains current Southern Caribbean and Pacific deployments against narco networks.
DoD Now Engages Directly In Drug Interdiction
- Institutional incentives previously kept DoD out of counter-trafficking, creating capability gaps at sea.
- Putting military assets into drug interdiction signals the U.S. will use force directly to defend communities.
