The Story Are Trump's strikes in Venezuela a 'war on drugs' - or a grab for oil?
Sep 30, 2025
Jon Bonfiglio, a seasoned journalist specializing in Latin America, joins the discussion on the recent US naval strikes off Venezuela. He delves into the clash over whether the targeted boats were drug traffickers or innocent fishermen. Bonfiglio explores the Trump administration’s motives, arguing that oil and curtailing Chinese influence are primary incentives behind these actions. With rising tensions, he highlights the risks of miscalculation in international waters, Venezuelan public sentiment, and the revival of gunboat diplomacy in the region.
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Conflicting Accounts Of The Strikes
- The US struck small boats off Venezuela claiming they were drug-trafficking skiffs and killed between 15 and 20 people.
- Venezuela says they were fishing vessels, and both accounts can be true if boats carried drugs sometimes while fishing.
Cartel Claims Versus Reality
- The US frames the strikes as targeting a so-called 'Cartel of the Suns' tied to Maduro, but analysts doubt such a formal organisation exists.
- Jon Bonfiglio notes drugs likely move through the area in ad-hoc ways and one skiff reportedly carried about a ton of cocaine.
Strikes As Performance Politics
- Bonfiglio argues the strikes fit Trump’s show-of-force negotiating style to instill fear and get attention.
- He links this to domestic tactics like National Guard deployments and aggressive ICE actions as part of a broader strategy.