Venezuela - US Conflict: News, Updates

[LeGenD]

If his successor is some kind of plant it so far doesn’t seem like she’s playing by trumps game.
How come worldview doesn’t actually believe this so called cartel actually doesn’t exist that actually intelligence doesn’t back trump up maduro corrupt probably but so is trump.
Trump has said emphatically they are taking over Venezuelas resources for america ie big oil is trying to takeover Venezuela yo is this what they call trying to do banana republic.
If trump actually cared about people hey Cuba is right below Florida…..nothing of value there to steal…..how about Guatemala a lot of corruption there El Salvador Belize Aruba damn how about Haiti

Optics, my friend.

This is what the former MI6 Chief (British "CIA") thinks

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

The problem with what you said about the Maduro Regime is that it was untouched, and there won't be anything that had done to it with this strike can because this is a one off, the chance of another one of this operation to punish the next person who not fall in line with Trump is near zero, because this is heavily relied on surprise. And with no degradation of military capability with Venezuela. If the US tries it again, it will be more difficult, if not outright impossible.

What this strike did, however, in a pure intelligence point of view, is to expose and burn all the unknown weaknesses, which makes another penetration nearly impossible. And in terms of political structure, you basically make them more resolved to fight you, while I do not agree on mostly what @MH.Yang said, he said one thing is very true in this regard, you don't resort to assassination (or in this case, doing this) becasue it WILL: make a martyr out of the man, I already asked all the source I know in country, the country actually turned around and support Maduro. Trump can say whatever he wants, but if the Venezuelans sided with Maduro and his "rightful" successor, you don't get the key to the castle simply because you take him out. This is the same reaction done to Trump after his conviction, people didn't abandon him because of this, instead it turned into a political showcase, and he eventually won the Presidency, it WILL BE THE SAME in Venezuela, you can even smell that by noticing the obvious absence from all the opposition voices in Venezuela, even they had distant themselves from it. That's how bad it is in Venezuela.

On the other hand, what you compare the Afghan to the Venezuelan is basically the same; they are brainwashed for 20+ years with this regime and the Chavez regime. That is a very long time to entrench itself in the government, and a lot of work for them to be deprogrammed. I know first hand how these Taliban think, I interrogated a few with my time there, you are expecting drastic change to their core believe once their leader is out of the picture, this is not going to happen, because nobody is buying into OBL (or in this case Maduro) because of OBL himself, this is a cult of some sort, yes, the leader is the person who charm them in the cult, but it is THE STRUCTURE that make them stay, either by will or by force, and in this case, the "Structure" here in Venezuela is untouched.

As for what the venezuela think when the US invade them, you need to ask what will the American think if we invade Venezuela instead, again, the point I made before stand, this ops is made so that direct confrontation are avoided, if we are prepare for an all out war with Venezuela, we won't do this, instead you will see Chinook landing the 3 Marine MEU in country wide Political and Miltiary Strong point to seize the country, but not this. We didn't even do a full count on Venezuela's military capability nationwide.

You can expect anything you want, but most analysts in the intelligence world agree this operation won't lead to anything other than a show trial.

With due respect, Sir, Venezuela have folded. As I had suspected and predicted in this thread earlier. Maduro regime is cornered and have limited options.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/04/world/americas/venezuela-acting-president.html

The US struck them in such a way that they are in shock & awe in true sense. They saw first hand what Multidomain Warfare is all about as they lost over 12 billion USD worth of costly equipment in under 3 hours.

Trump admin have planned this intervention meticulously. This war is more or less over. All the typical pundits are shocked and cannot digest these turn of events. They need to sell their "churan" to their followers on their YouTube Channels after all.

 

[j_hungary]

I didn't originally want to talk about the internal conflicts in Venezuela, but now many people are pointing the reason for Maduro's arrest by the United States towards China. So let me be clear.

Firstly, who can accurately know Maduro's hiding place? Who can prohibit the Venezuelan air defense forces from firing? Who can make Maduro's presidential guard give up resistance without firing a single shot? The answer is simple, only the senior military officials in Venezuela can achieve this.

Why did Venezuela's top officials betray Maduro? There are two reasons for this, one is the struggle for rights.

In 2002, Chavez experienced a coup. After the failed coup, Chavez lost trust in the military, so he introduced Cuban intelligence agencies into the military. Since 2002, almost all activities of the Venezuelan military, including organizational training, have been under the surveillance of Cuban intelligence agencies. This behavior actually seriously tramples on the national pride of the Venezuelan military officer group. Any officer who has received formal military education would consider such behavior as betraying national sovereignty and tarnishing military honor.

Maduro not only continued Chavez's policy of using Cuban intelligence agencies to monitor the military, but also established a loyal army to himself, namely the 4 million strong Bolivar militia. This is not only a lack of trust in the Venezuelan military, but also a serious damage to the resources and rights of the Venezuelan military.

In addition to these reasons, the economic problems of the military are also an important factor in their betrayal of Maduro. The Venezuelan military is not just soldiers, but also businessmen. They control the rights to oil extraction, gold extraction, and even food distribution. This is the globally renowned 'Sun Cartel Group'. These are actually chips used by the Venezuelan government to buy loyalty from the military. However, as US sanctions become increasingly severe, the value of these interests is also decreasing. They are no longer sufficient to buy and feed the Venezuelan military.

The rebellion of the Venezuelan military has also become inevitable.

Maduro wasn't hiding in a hole; he was in the Presidential Palace. He was going to hide, but the information suggests the Delta got in before they could close the gate. I know where Maduro was before the strike, as he just did a TV interview from his office 5 hours before being captured.

If there are deals to be done (most likely they did) it would be the sell-out of the command structure and the location of defensive weapons on account of them being known and totally suppressed before and during the operation

Bolivarian Militia (Not Bolivar Militia, that's Bolivian Army...)is not an armed force but an armed group; they have minimal training, and it's not at 4 million strong (at most, with part-time personnel is 1 million, regular estimate at 400,000)

And finally, since the serious mistrust with the Leader of Venezuela, most of Venezuelean military were sidelined, and it's unlikely they betrayed Maduro as they probably know nothing to begin with, most analysts are looking at the Cuban Guard and selective General in the Militia. Because the former is responsible for the Presidential protection and the latter is for Caracas Civil Defence.

 

[Pak-Warrior]

Trump admin have planned this intervention meticulously

and meticulously morally corrupt that rest of the World will disgust the US for eternity.

Doing an unprovoked, unannouned cowardice attack in middle of night to abduct head of state of another soverign state. Only because he is non-compliant and asking Venezuelans to give total access to all of their oil.

 

[Cash gk]

Overextension is the beginning of the end for superpowers. Their global reach has become too costly. After exploiting Muslim countries’ resources, they are now turning toward Christian nations. China, meanwhile, is watching quietly and letting them make errors

 

[j_hungary]

Optics, my friend.


With due respect, Sir, Venezuela have folded. As I had suspected and predicted in this thread earlier. Maduro regime is cornered and have limited options.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/04/world/americas/venezuela-acting-president.html

The US struck them in such a way that they are in shock & awe in true sense. They saw first hand what Multidomain Warfare is all about as they lost over 12 billion USD worth of costly equipment in under 3 hours.

Trump admin have planned this intervention meticulously. This war is more or less over. All the typical pundits are shocked and cannot digest these turn of events. They need to sell their "churan" to their followers on their YouTube Channels after all.

Well, this is the same tone BEFORE the attack with Maduro, this is actually exactly what Maduro said.......bruh...at best, this is going back to square 1.

Venezuela’s Maduro confirms ‘cordial’ call with Trump amid tensions with US

Venezuelan leader expresses hope phone call marks beginning of 'respectful dialogue' between Washington and Caracas.

www.aljazeera.com

On the other hand, it takes Iraq roughly 15 years to reboot its oil production with American help, so I don't see how this tone can last that long.



Trump jumped on the chance and didn't think about consequence, this gain nothing for the US in the short to medium term, but opened the Pandora's box for basically every adversary to do the same. That trade is not balance however you see it, bud.

 

[LeGenD]

and meticulously morally corrupt that rest of the World will disgust the US for eternity.

Doing an unprovoked, unannouned cowardice attack in middle of night to abduct head of state of another soverign state. Only because he is non-compliant and asking Venezuelans to give total access to all of their oil.

Bro, this is the ethical side of debate. I was addressing the conventional view.

 

[LeGenD]

Overextension is the beginning of the end for superpowers. Their global reach has become too costly. After exploiting Muslim countries’ resources, they are now turning toward Christian nations. China, meanwhile, is watching quietly and letting them make errors

The "over-extension" theory is advanced by some observers who at best understand how a regional power works. The US have put together a navy of such size and capability that allows it to intervene and fight in distant lands within a span of some days; never before in history a force this capable was established to exploit distant lands so rapidly. The US is theoretically stretched in the Middle East where logistics requirements significantly increase in the event of a major conflict but said region is being managed with strategic anchors in Israel, Kuwait and Qatar. The Pacific is American backyard.

 

[Pak-Warrior]

Here's what happened ladies & gentlemen:

I tell you a story of my "bravery", something only I could have done as I am so smart and intelligent.

I with my fellow goons with guns, sneaked into neighbors house last night. They were all sleeping, We climbed over the wall, entered house and went to the head of house bedroom. We pointed guns at him and abducted him. Now I am asking his children and other family members for extortion money and Total access to their house.

Now just tell me and praise me how brave and smart I am. What a great precedent I have set already !

 

[gambit]

I am sure this tweet is from someone having zero understanding of military / warfare.

I am former USAF, F-111 Cold War then F-16 Desert Storm. Will I do?

A radar or any sensor has to be part of whole system of systems.

True.

There has to be integrated air defense and a joint command with quick reaction forces to do anything against a sophisticated enemy.

The point here is whether the Venezuelan air defense was of any proficient with all those Russian and Chinese hardware.

Prior to the operation, have no doubt the US flew SIGINT sorties off the Venezuelan coast. SIGINT = Signals Intelligence. We got the radars mapped, from their ground locations to what freqs they transmit.

F-22s were readied to down any Venezuelan fighters.

F-35s and B-1s were readied to take out any ground forces.

EA-18s were jamming the spectrum.

How many militaries in the world are trained against that combined assault?

This US op was an cowardice unannounced attack in middle of night against a weak country...

Military academies all over the world will not care about this line of 'criticism'.

 

[Cash gk]

Bro, this is the ethical side of debate. I was addressing the conventional view.

They attacked Venezuela in a staged and gradual way over the past two months. First, they imposed blockades and sanctions, restricting trade and isolating the country economically. Then they seized and diverted Venezuela’s oil shipments, effectively robbing the country of its primary source of revenue. This economic strangulation weakened the state and created pressure internally and externally. Once the country was sufficiently destabilized, they escalated to direct action by abducting the president from the capital. It was not a sudden event, but a calculated sequence of steps designed to break resistance before moving to the final phase

 

[Master Chief]

Let me compare the historical process of the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire.

Firstly, there is a serious conflict between the populist demands of the Roman Republic and the interests of the elite establishment. The political consultation mechanism has failed, violence has become a means of political expression, reform has failed, and social division has intensified. The iconic event of the Roman Republic was the violent execution of the Graco brothers for their failed reform. The American landmark event was the first failed reform by Obama and Trump, and the Capitol Hill riot.

The second step is to use external military actions to concentrate military and political power, systematically purge political enemies, and undermine the structural integrity of the republican system. The iconic event of the Roman Republic was the Sulla dictatorship. The iconic event of the United States is the invasion of Venezuela, where Trump controls the military.

The third step is that social division continues to intensify, with two political groups engaged in completely opposite line struggles, and the struggle is intensifying. The iconic event of the Roman Republic was the civil war among the top three giants. The iconic event in the United States is the intense battle between the donkey and elephant parties.

The fourth step is that populists have broken the political control of the establishment and harmed the fundamental interests of the establishment. The establishment attempted to restore the old order through assassination, but the result was a faster emergence of the new order. The iconic events of the Roman Republic were Caesar's dictatorship and assassination. The iconic events in the United States are Trump's assassination and second term.

The next event will be a final battle within the empire, followed by the birth of a single political and military leader, ultimately achieving centralization. The Senate has become a symbolic institution, and the oligarchic republic has transformed into a monarchy. The Roman Republic was established through the civil war of the last three giants, the Battle of Actium, and ultimately Octavian becoming Augustus.

Let's see how Trump will become the new emperor of the Roman Empire.

Trump is far more Caligula than Augustus.

 

[Cash gk]

There is no over-extension. The US have put a navy of such size and capability that allows it to intervene and fight in distant lands within a span of some days. Never before in history a force this capable was established to exploit distant lands if need be. The US is theoretically stretched in the Middle East where logistics requirements significantly in the event of a major conflict but the region is managed with strategic anchors in Israel, Kuwait and Qatar. The Pacific is American backyard.

The real question isn’t whether the U.S. can project power, but how expensive it is to do so. The United States maintains hundreds of overseas military bases across more than 70 countries, along with constant naval task forces deployed in multiple oceans. These are not “free strategic anchors.” They cost hundreds of billions every year just to operate.fuel, personnel, logistics, maintenance, construction, security, and benefits.
The U.S. defense budget alone is over $850 billion to $900 billion annually (approaching $1 trillion when including supplemental and hidden spending), making it the largest military budget in the world by far. On top of that, diplomatic efforts—including embassies, foreign aid tied to diplomacy, international missions, and staffing—cost tens of billions more every year. The State Department’s own base budget (not counting foreign aid) is roughly $20–25 billion, and when foreign assistance, cultural/strategic programs, and security cooperation are included, the diplomatic and soft-power budget adds another $50 billion or more.
So yes, the U.S. has capability, but maintaining that global footprint—including military and diplomatic efforts—comes with massive, recurring costs for the U.S. government and often for host countries as well. Capability does not mean cost-free influence, and history shows that empires often reach a breaking point when the expense of sustaining their reach outweighs the benefits.

 

[j_hungary]

Trump is far more Caligula than Augustus.

Not to mention geopolitically, it will drive those countries he mentioned (Cuba, Mexico, Columbia et el) turn to China more for protection

We were losing South American allies before this, and now it's even further away, even if Venezuela folds and falls back into our camp, I mean, we aren't going to invade Cuba, Mexico, and Colombia and kidnap their leader to make them fall in line. This is a geopolitical disaster.

 

[LeGenD]

They attacked Venezuela in a staged and gradual way over the past two months. First, they imposed blockades and sanctions, restricting trade and isolating the country economically. Then they seized and diverted Venezuela’s oil shipments, effectively robbing the country of its primary source of revenue. This economic strangulation weakened the state and created pressure internally and externally. Once the country was sufficiently destabilized, they escalated to direct action by abducting the president from the capital. It was not a sudden event, but a calculated sequence of steps designed to break resistance before moving to the final phase

Yes, this is correct. Well said. The warfare demonstrated in this region is stunning in its execution and worth studying in the years to come.

 

[LeGenD]

The real question isn’t whether the U.S. can project power, but how expensive it is to do so. The United States maintains hundreds of overseas military bases across more than 70 countries, along with constant naval task forces deployed in multiple oceans. These are not “free strategic anchors.” They cost hundreds of billions every year just to operate.fuel, personnel, logistics, maintenance, construction, security, and benefits.
The U.S. defense budget alone is over $850 billion to $900 billion annually (approaching $1 trillion when including supplemental and hidden spending), making it the largest military budget in the world by far. On top of that, diplomatic efforts—including embassies, foreign aid tied to diplomacy, international missions, and staffing—cost tens of billions more every year. The State Department’s own base budget (not counting foreign aid) is roughly $20–25 billion, and when foreign assistance, cultural/strategic programs, and security cooperation are included, the diplomatic and soft-power budget adds another $50 billion or more.
So yes, the U.S. has capability, but maintaining that global footprint—including military and diplomatic efforts—comes with massive, recurring costs for the U.S. government and often for host countries as well. Capability does not mean cost-free influence, and history shows that empires often reach a breaking point when the expense of sustaining their reach outweighs the benefits.

Yes, you are right. But the American economic model is designed to work that way. The money flows in the MIC and the sheer level of employment it has generated is staggering. Now the issue is about how to rebalance USD flows so that American industrial base have a shot at expanding further and competing with the Chinese industrial base. There are reports that Trump is restructuring American military footprint worldwide and compelling various companies to invest in the US. Interesting times ahead.