This article investigates President Trump's escalating actions against Venezuela, including military strikes, sanctions, and accusations of drug trafficking and criminal immigration, while suggesting the underlying motivation is Venezuela's rich oil and mineral resources.
The article details President Donald Trump's aggressive stance against Venezuela, characterized by military strikes on alleged 'drug smuggling' boats, a military build-up, the seizure of an oil tanker, and accusations against President Nicolas Maduro of leading a drug cartel. Trump's stated justifications for these actions include Venezuela's alleged role in sending 'millions' of criminals, gang members, murderers, and mentally ill individuals across the US border, and its involvement in drug trafficking. He has used these claims to justify lethal military operations. However, Venezuela vehemently denies these allegations, labeling Trump's actions as 'international piracy' and accusing the US of attempting to plunder its vast natural resources, particularly oil and rare earth minerals. The article highlights that the US has seized Venezuelan oil and imposed sanctions on oil-shipping companies, suggesting that gaining leverage over Venezuela's substantial mineral wealth, estimated at $1.36 trillion, is a key, unstated objective, drawing parallels to a US mineral deal with Ukraine.
