Even before taking office, the new Donald Trump administration has identified Venezuela and President Nicolás Maduro as top priorities.
According to Axios, Trump’s team wants Maduro to follow the example of recently ousted Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad. However, Trump’s advisers emphasize that regime change does not necessarily imply “military action.”
“We wouldn’t mind seeing Maduro in Moscow, neighboring Assad,” a Trump adviser involved in foreign policy discussions told Axios.
During the election campaign, Trump accused Maduro of intentionally sending criminal gangs like Tren de Aragua to the United States.
Florida Senator Marco Rubio, speaking at Trump’s confirmation hearing for secretary of state, described Venezuela as being “run by a narco-trafficking organization that has empowered itself as a nation-state.”
Venezuela’s closest ally, Cuba, is historically one of America’s most significant adversaries in Latin America. Rubio further suggested that the Maduro administration is aligned with China, Russia, and Iran, the latter of which is reportedly building drones in Venezuela.
Trump imposed sanctions on Venezuela during his first term, but his exact strategy for removing Maduro from office remains uncertain.
“This is not sustainable,” the Trump adviser commented, criticizing the situation in Venezuela. He highlighted significant issues such as economic collapse, refugee crises, criminal networks being sent to the US, declining oil production, and the presence of Chinese, Russian, and Cuban influence in the country.
Trump’s interest in Venezuela aligns with a broader national security framework influenced by the “America First” agenda, especially within the Western Hemisphere, according to Axios.
Trump’s new policy approach, reportedly referred to as the “Donroe Doctrine,” speculates on ambitious goals such as annexing Canada, invading Mexico, purchasing Greenland, and reclaiming the Panama Canal from Chinese influence. These speculations have caused unease among US allies.
Meanwhile, oil lobbyists and investors have advocated for softening US-Venezuela relations. In November, they proposed an “oil-for-migrants” agreement. This deal suggested easing sanctions and increasing oil imports from Venezuela in exchange for Venezuela reducing migration and accepting deported migrants from the US.
However, Trump has expressed skepticism toward such agreements. “We don’t have to buy energy from Venezuela when we have 50 times more energy than Venezuela,” he stated. Trump also predicted that Venezuela would accept the deported Tren de Aragua gang members.
On 9 January, after the brief detention of Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, Trump referenced her on Truth Social, emphasizing that “freedom fighters must remain unharmed, SAFE, and ALIVE.”
