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CWA # 1873
TWTW Note
US-Venezuela Tensions: Military, Diplomatic and Internal Challenges to President Trump

  R Preetha
8 December 2025

What happened?
On 3 December, three Democratic Senators, along with a Republican, filed a War Powers resolution. They said: "Should a strike occur, we will call up a War Powers Resolution to force a debate and vote in Congress that would block the use of US forces in hostilities against or within Venezuela."

On 30 November, President Trump confirmed that he had telephoned Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro, but declined to disclose any details. 

On 29 November, Trump stated on Truth Social: "To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY." Venezuela's government condemned the remarks in a statement as a "colonialist threat" against the country's sovereignty and contrary to international law.

On 27 November, Trump, while addressing the US military service members, stated: "We'll be starting to stop them by land also. The land is easier, but that's going to start very soon."

What is the background?
First, a brief background to the recent US-Venezuela tensions. Since early September 2025, US forces under Operation Southern Spear have carried out 21 lethal strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, killing 83 people. On 2 September, a strike authorised by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth sank a boat with 11 people aboard, and a follow-up strike reportedly targeted survivors. The US alleges these vessels, linked to the Tren de Aragua gang and "Cartel de los Soles" (designated a foreign terrorist organization, with Maduro being associated with this group), transport fentanyl and other narcotics to the US, framing the operations as targeting "narco-terrorists." The US has authorized Covert CIA operations in Venezuela and has also deployed 10,000 troops, warships, and fighter aircraft. Washington considers Maduro's government illegitimate and accuses his government of narco-corruption. Nicolás Maduro has been in power in Venezuela since 2013 and was re-elected in 2024, a vote dismissed as fraudulent by the US and Western allies.

Second, Venezuela's responses to US actions. Caracas views the US actions as a regime-change effort disguised as counternarcotics operations, aimed at exploiting Venezuela's natural resources in the backdrop of economic collapse and with nearly 7.9 million refugee exodus (UNHCR). President Maduro rejects allegations of drug links, condemning the strikes as sovereignty violations and potential war crimes; UN experts have also raised concerns about extrajudicial killings and civilian harm. In response, Venezuela has mobilised weapons and is reportedly preparing for a guerrilla-style resistance in the event of a US attack, while seeking additional support from Russia and China. Diplomatic options have narrowed after a brief call with Trump last month in which, it is reported, Maduro sought amnesty and sanctions relief as part of a negotiated exit. Trump rejected most requests but offered a one-week safe passage for Maduro and his family. This safe passage offer expired on 28 November, reportedly prompting Trump's airspace declaration.

Third, opposition within the US, and the White House's response. President Trump has repeatedly stated that a land attack on Venezuela would begin "very soon," leading to bipartisan concern. A group of Democratic and Republican Senators have filed a war powers resolution. Under Senate rules, the resolution must come to a vote within days. Lawmakers from both parties have also expressed alarm over reports that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a second strike on survivors of the 2 September attack, potentially violating international law. The White House maintains that the operation was lawful. Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated that Hegseth had authorised the strikes, which were conducted to protect US interests, occurred in international waters and complied with the law of armed conflict. Previous attempts in Congress to require Trump to seek authorisation for actions against Venezuela have repeatedly failed, with Senate Republicans blocking resolutions in October and November.

What does it mean?
First, an escalation risking direct conflict. The lethal maritime strikes, large-scale US deployments, along with Trump's repeated threats of land operations, have raised concerns that Washington is moving beyond counternarcotics operations toward potential intervention. Even though US actions are framed as targeting "narco-terrorists," the scale of military activity goes well beyond typical counternarcotics efforts. Diplomatically, options are narrowing for President Maduro.

Second, within the US, there are tensions over executive authority. The bipartisan war powers resolution has reopened debates over the limits of executive authority in authorising the use of force. After two failed earlier attempts, a vote now tests the extent of congressional support for President Trump's approach. It could also expose divisions within the Republican Party and reflect broader constitutional concerns about executive overreach, especially if land operations proceed without legislative approval.

About the author
R Preetha is a postgraduate student at Stella Maris College, Chennai.

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