Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab accused the US of attempting to make Venezuela a "colony" through efforts to change its government. Saab claims these calls for regime change are a guise to exploit Venezuelan natural resources like gold, oil, and copper. This accusation marks an escalation in tensions as many nations, including the US, refuse to recognize Nicolás Maduro following disputed elections in 2024.

 

The US has considered military approaches towards Venezuela, with President Trump mentioning "land action" in addition to recent military build-ups purportedly targeting drug trafficking. At least 43 were reported killed in strikes on suspected drug vessels, a move authorized by Trump's administration starting in early September. Members of US Congress have expressed concerns about the legality of these actions, prompting Senator Lindsey Graham to acknowledge potential land strikes and Trump's intention to brief Congress post-Asia trip.

 

Saab emphasized Venezuela's readiness to discuss with the US despite their "illegitimate" drug-fighting campaign, warning against military invasions. The US’s increase in military presence in the Caribbean, including warships and aircraft, is officially framed as counter-narcotics but analysts suggest a broader goal of destabilizing Maduro’s government.

 

The arrival of the guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely in Trinidad and Tobago represents one of the largest US military deployments to the Caribbean in decades. This presence, condemned by Venezuela as a "military provocation," coincides with accusations that Venezuela thwarted a "false flag" operation linked to US intelligence. Prior similar claims by Maduro include an alleged plot at the US embassy in Caracas.

 

 

Key Takeaways

Venezuela accuses the US of regime change efforts for resource control.
US military actions in the Caribbean are officially drug-related but suggest opposing Maduro.
The presence of US forces near Venezuela escalates regional tensions.

 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from BBC 2025-10-26

 

 

 

He is absolutely correct.

1 minute ago, stevenl said:

He is absolutely correct.

Of course he is.

I'm conflicted about this.

I would love to see Maduro fall as well as Trump. 

So much for NO WAR Trump. Still thinks he deserves a Nobel Peace Prize. DEMENTED!

20 hours ago, CharlieH said:

 

 Venezuela: 'No doubt' Trump wants to overthrow government

The citizens of Venezuela would most certainly appreciate this.

20 hours ago, stevenl said:

He is absolutely correct.

 

20 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Of course he is.

Most certainly, that’s the game of geo politics of who gets the upper hand.

20 hours ago, Jingthing said:

I'm conflicted about this.

Hope you get that sorted out and gain some clarity.

We would be better served by using the money to send a carrier task force to chase outboard motor boats and instead invest it in technology at our ports of entry and airports….but that’s not theater so that wouldn’t happen with trump,he needs to keep the marks all riled up.he is what he is a troll and his base falls for it every time.

20 hours ago, CharlieH said:

President Trump mentioning "land action"

It will be another Vietnam and will not end well for Trump. Venezuela is a large country and a land size of 916,445 km2 mostly mountains, highlands and forests much like Vietnam and Vietnam is less than a quarter in size to Venezuela. US military will have to fight a guerilla warfare in Venezuela and will struggle like in Vietnam. US military will be bogged down, suffered casualties and will be costly. It is a foolhardy for Trump to think that he can just walk all over the Latin American countries. .

1 hour ago, Eric Loh said:

It will be another Vietnam and will not end well for Trump. Venezuela is a large country and a land size of 916,445 km2 mostly mountains, highlands and forests much like Vietnam and Vietnam is less than a quarter in size to Venezuela. US military will have to fight a guerilla warfare in Venezuela and will struggle like in Vietnam. US military will be bogged down, suffered casualties and will be costly. It is a foolhardy for Trump to think that he can just walk all over the Latin American countries. .

I don't think he's looking at an invasion, but a regime change.

20 minutes ago, stevenl said:

I don't think he's looking at an invasion, but a regime change.

Threats do not result in regime change.  Venezuela is not a house of cards that will collapse with threats. It is the same kind of mentality that Bush thought that moving military assets to the Persian Gulf will be sufficient threats to cause a regime change and getting rid of Saddam. Trump has gone too far to back off an invasion. 

Pinocchio searches for his Vietnam

The time is coming for Mr Maduro. Just like some others who are already history. The time will come for some others as well. 

Love seeing how left/centre media can't help themselves with rise Maduro, a dictator disaster for Venezuala. Causing so much distress that people try to leave in droves. This is a country that highlights how left wing policies can crush a society. A real UN would have got rid of him years ago. 

Oh, and a bit of drug trade in the mix. 

Let's see if Trump commits any feet to the ground. 
Let's see how it plays out. 

Suspect old tired media and their acolytes will be wrong again in their projections. Some had Milei on the ropes a few weeks back, just won big time. Before that tariffs were going to destroy the world economy, Now got Trump demolishing a section of the White House ad nauseum, as if no previous President has made changes. They can't decide whether he's Hitler or a King. 

Fear not though, most people no longer respect MSM and those that read it, like me, just can't believe how bent and twisted they've become. At least CBS News is about to get a makeover and maybe CNN later? 

1 hour ago, Donga said:

Love seeing how left/centre media can't help themselves with rise Maduro, a dictator disaster for Venezuala. Causing so much distress that people try to leave in droves. This is a country that highlights how left wing policies can crush a society. A real UN would have got rid of him years ago. 

Oh, and a bit of drug trade in the mix. 

Let's see if Trump commits any feet to the ground. 
Let's see how it plays out. 

Suspect old tired media and their acolytes will be wrong again in their projections. Some had Milei on the ropes a few weeks back, just won big time. Before that tariffs were going to destroy the world economy, Now got Trump demolishing a section of the White House ad nauseum, as if no previous President has made changes. They can't decide whether he's Hitler or a King. 

Fear not though, most people no longer respect MSM and those that read it, like me, just can't believe how bent and twisted they've become. At least CBS News is about to get a makeover and maybe CNN later? 

Everyone agrees that the current regime is a disaster for Venezuela. That's not a debate topic.

 

Posturing by sending the US navy and bombing a few smugglers' boats won't lead to a regime change.

 

The only way, under current conditions, is a military invasion. Is it wise for the US to do that? 

4 minutes ago, candide said:

The only way, under current conditions, is a military invasion. Is it wise for the US to do that? 

In this case, yes.

4 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

It will be another Vietnam and will not end well for Trump. Venezuela is a large country and a land size of 916,445 km2 mostly mountains, highlands and forests much like Vietnam and Vietnam is less than a quarter in size to Venezuela. US military will have to fight a guerilla warfare in Venezuela and will struggle like in Vietnam. US military will be bogged down, suffered casualties and will be costly. It is a foolhardy for Trump to think that he can just walk all over the Latin American countries. .

And considering that Venezuela is friendly with China and Russia, partly because of the oil that the country has in abundance, it seems wise to me not to poke the bear.

2 hours ago, ujayujay said:

Pinocchio searches for his Vietnam

Pinocchio is the name we used to give to the Prime Minister of the Netherlands because he lied so much, and now that same man is the head of NATO. Can you imagine?
Also worth mentioning, he affectionately called Trump “Daddy”!
How crazy is that?

Keyboard Warriors would be advised to use an AI Chatbot to become educated on Venezuela.

 

Key Notes

70% to 80% of population lives in poverty.

GDP fell an estimated 80% between 2013 and 2023.

Hyperinflation for past 10 plus years.

Healthcare, education, and infrastructure (e.g., electricity and fuel) are often in total disrepair.

 

Does this sound like somewhere you want to retire?

Somewhere you want to invest in a business?

Somewhere you want to vacation?

Somewhere you want to live and raise a family?

 

I don't have all the answers but I think an Average Citizen would make better decisions on all the basics a country needs to have a comfortable, livable, low poverty country.

 

As for China, they have a "Loans for Oil" agreement for Venezuela oil purchases.

Purchase, Oil, Petroleum Coke (Cement, Steel production, energy)

Iron ore, Scrap Copper, 

Acyclic alcohols are widely used as:

Solvents (paints, inks, cleaners)

Fuel additives

Chemical intermediates (esters, ethers)

Disinfectants & sanitizers

Raw materials in plastics, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.

From Venezuela 

 

China provides to Venezuela 

Loans for Oil, infrastructure

Cars, motorbikes, Machinery, 

Air Conditioner

Rubber Tires

and Medicines

 

Trade is limited by Sanctions.  Can only hope something can occur so a positive change will happen and Venezuela can have a future they can look forward to.

 

 

20 hours ago, Peterphuket said:

And considering that Venezuela is friendly with China and Russia, partly because of the oil that the country has in abundance, it seems wise to me not to poke the bear.

Why, you think Russia or China would retaliate?

18 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Why, you think Russia or China would retaliate?

The Maduro government has deepened ties with Russia and China over the years with partnership pacts on military and economic and also diplomatic backing. Russia and China will push back against US pressure and protect their influence in Latin America. 

3 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

The Maduro government has deepened ties with Russia and China over the years with partnership pacts on military and economic and also diplomatic backing. Russia and China will push back against US pressure and protect their influence in Latin America. 

Economic retaliation could happen. But military, which the poster i responded to seemed to imply, no chance.

6 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Economic retaliation could happen. But military, which the poster i responded to seemed to imply, no chance.

I would not discount a kind of proxy war. Armed the Maduro government with the right weapons to inflict fatalities on the US military enough to creat an uproar at home and force a withdrawl of hostility. . 

The US has its eye on both Venezuela and Columbia.  I hope Trump, Hegseth, and team send in thousands of US Army and Marines.  Then Trump will have his own little Vietnam 2.0 as Latin America coalescence against "The Ugly Americans" once more and begins to send insurgent troops through the mountains and jungles of Northern South America from Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador supported as proxies by Russia and China after the US lands a beach-head in Caracas, Barranquilla, and the coastal cities.  Tie Uncle Sam up in the Western Hemisphere and bleed him to the point where the US is too occupied to spread war on other points of the globe.  It truly would be karma fabricated from Trump's extreme megalomania and hubris. 
"I am the King Of The World, and I will conquer all - bow at my feet and tremble."  

Well, come on all of you big strong men,

Uncle Sam needs your help again.

He's got himself in a terrible jam, 

Way down yonder in Vietnam Venezuela. 

So put down your books and pick up a gun,

We're gonna have a whole lotta fun. 

23 hours ago, Donga said:

Love seeing how left/centre media can't help themselves with rise Maduro, a dictator disaster for Venezuala. Causing so much distress that people try to leave in droves. This is a country that highlights how left wing policies can crush a society. A real UN would have got rid of him years ago. 

Oh, and a bit of drug trade in the mix. 

Let's see if Trump commits any feet to the ground. 
Let's see how it plays out. 

Suspect old tired media and their acolytes will be wrong again in their projections. Some had Milei on the ropes a few weeks back, just won big time. Before that tariffs were going to destroy the world economy, Now got Trump demolishing a section of the White House ad nauseum, as if no previous President has made changes. They can't decide whether he's Hitler or a King. 

Fear not though, most people no longer respect MSM and those that read it, like me, just can't believe how bent and twisted they've become. At least CBS News is about to get a makeover and maybe CNN later? 

It's amazing how effective propaganda is.

I love Gerald Celente.  The guy is spot on.

22 hours ago, candide said:

Everyone agrees that the current regime is a disaster for Venezuela. That's not a debate topic.

 

Posturing by sending the US navy and bombing a few smugglers' boats won't lead to a regime change.

 

The only way, under current conditions, is a military invasion. Is it wise for the US to do that? 

No, be unwise for Trump and the US, so I don't there will be an invasion. 

Perhaps the military of Venezuela can grow some and do the country a huge favour.  Hard to see how they couldn't improve immeasurably over the current despot. 

23 hours ago, candide said:

Everyone agrees that the current regime is a disaster for Venezuela. That's not a debate topic.

 

Posturing by sending the US navy and bombing a few smugglers' boats won't lead to a regime change.

 

The only way, under current conditions, is a military invasion. Is it wise for the US to do that? 

Everyone agrees?  Well, everyone who believe everything they are told on Fox News and the US State Department.  

Should the US invade Venezuela?  Sure, why not.  Sending troops to Latin America to colonized those countries has been the name of the game to put teeth into the Monroe Doctrine since the beginning of the early 20th century. Marine Corp. General Smedley Butler in his book, "War Is A Racket" summed it up.  The premise of the 1935 book is simple enough to understand:

1. Economic Motivations Over Ideals: Butler contends that wars are not fought for patriotism, democracy, or national defense but to generate immense profits for arms manufacturers, bankers, and other war-related industries. He illustrates this with data showing how a select group reaps billions while the public bears the costs in lives, debt, and taxes.
2. Personal Testimony and Examples: Drawing from his 33-year military career, Butler describes his role in interventions (e.g., in Mexico, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua) as enforcing corporate interests, such as protecting American business assets abroad, rather than serving genuine national security needs.
3. Consequences for Soldiers and Society: The book highlights the human toll—millions of deaths, injuries, and psychological trauma inflicted on enlisted personnel—contrasted with the financial gains of the elite. Butler estimates post-World War I profits and warns of recurring cycles that enrich the few while impoverishing the many.
4. Proposed Solutions: Butler advocates for reforms, including limiting wars to genuine defensive actions, conscripting capital and profits alongside manpower, and subjecting war declarations to a public referendum excluding those over military age.

Other direct corporate beneficiaries were United Fruit Company and Standard Fruit Company, so the US military was used to occupy Latin America and generate profits for US corporate interests.

Now that the US King is flexing his imperial muscles, Latin America is ripe for regime change and occupation. Who benefits this time.  Same, same but different.  Still major profits for arms manufacturers, bankers, and other war-related industries, but now Big Oil will be a major beneficiary.  Venezuela has some of the largest oil reserves on the planet - ripe of the taking.  All is needed a a casus belli (Venezuela is a narco-terrorist state and President Mudero is the head of the Venezuela drug cartel.  All bunk, but hey, we invaded Iraq after that sell-out Gen. Colin Powell shook a vial of white powder in front of the UN and claimed Iraq had "weapons of mass destruction.")  But?  Bunk works when you want to go to war for corporate profits. 
However, my guess is that would become Vietnam 2.0.  As it should.  Except this time around I'm not marching in protest marches.  The US and military "volunteers" (cannon-fodder) will reap their just rewards.  Hopefully in their next war, the US get 100% bogged down in The Suck. 

1 hour ago, Donga said:

Perhaps the military of Venezuela can grow some and do the country a huge favour.  Hard to see how they couldn't improve immeasurably over the current despot. 

Half the world plus half the US population consider Trump a despot.  So shouldn't China and Russia invade the US to overthrow the US despot in the name of humanity?  

See, it's funny that the US can do that to little countries which can't match the US military's fire-power, but over time those countries end up grinding the US military down with insurgencies, Then there's the fact that the US military can't fight a peer competitor.  Heck, the US has lost in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan.  Fighting China or Russia?  The only end of those wars in nuclear, and then humanity loses. 

War Is A Racket, Gen. Smedely Butler, USMC

 

Interestingly enough, his pamphlet presages WWII. And in 2025, it presage WWIII.  And for the exact same reasons.   It's a worthwhile read.  Who says history doesn't repeat itself. Well, we're rhyming pretty good right now.  

 

https://ia903202.us.archive.org/7/items/WarIsARacket/WarIsARacket.pdf

"There are 40,000,000 men under arms in the world today, and our statesmen and diplomats
have the temerity to say that war is not in the making.

Hell’s bells! Are these 40,000,000 men being trained to be dancers?

Not in Italy, to be sure. Premier Mussolini knows what they are being trained for. He, at
least, is frank enough to speak out. Only the other day, Il Duce in "International
Conciliation," the publication of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said:
"And above all, Fascism, the more it considers and observes the future and the development of
humanity quite apart from political considerations of the moment, believes neither in the
possibility nor the utility of perpetual peace. . . . War alone brings up to its highest tension all
human energy and puts the stamp of nobility upon the people who have the courage to meet it."

 

Undoubtedly Mussolini means exactly what he says. His well-trained army, his great fleet of
planes, and even his navy are ready for war -- anxious for it, apparently. His recent stand at
the side of Hungary in the latter’s dispute with Jugoslavia showed that. And the hurried
mobilization of his troops on the Austrian border after the assassination of Dollfuss showed
it too. There are others in Europe too whose sabre rattling presages war, sooner or later.

 

Herr Hitler, with his rearming Germany and his constant demands for more and more arms,
is an equal if not greater menace to peace. France only recently increased the term of
military service for its youth from a year to eighteen months.
 

Yes, all over, nations are camping in their arms. The mad dogs of Europe are on the loose. In
the Orient the maneuvering is more adroit. Back in 1904, when Russia and Japan fought, we
kicked out our old friends the Russians and backed Japan. Then our very generous
international bankers were financing Japan. Now the trend is to poison us against the
Japanese. What does the "open door" policy to China mean to us? Our trade with China is
about $90,000,000 a year. Or the Philippine Islands? We have spent about $600,000,000 in
the Philippines in thirty-five years and we (our bankers and industrialists and speculators)
have private investments there of less than $200,000,000."

2 hours ago, Donga said:

No, be unwise for Trump and the US, so I don't there will be an invasion. 

Perhaps the military of Venezuela can grow some and do the country a huge favour.  Hard to see how they couldn't improve immeasurably over the current despot. 

The military is corrupt and also one of the main beneficiaries of the current regime, and it's not called "Bolivarian" for no reason. Millions of civilians are also members of Bolivarian militias.

The government also controls food supply and jobs to a large extent. Unfortunately, a military coup or a civilian rebellion are very unlikely. Remember that Chavez was nearly toppled by a coup. It's part of this regime's memory.

5 hours ago, stevenl said:

Why, you think Russia or China would retaliate?

I admit they don't need to be so afraid of the Russians, but the Chinese, they can't be trusted, or am I wrong?