Oil, Drugs Or Geopolitical Dominance

In quest for a plausible explanation to the United States of America (U.S) and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuelah (BRV) Hostile Standoff. " As a dangerous conflict looms in the Caribbean"

Introduction
The current standoff and probable looming naked violence between the North American political and economic giant, United States of America (U.S) and the Oil- rich South American Bolivarian Republic of Venezuelah is not about drugs or fishboats with fisherman according to Venezuelah, or fishboats with drug pushers according to (U.S). Nor is it about democracy, it's in essence, a battle for oil and for geopolitical dominance by a power (U.S) which traditionally has considered the Carribean and Latin America it's own backyard or sphere of influence where no other power should pop up showing its interests.

"The New Cuban Missile Crisis of 21st Century"

History always repeats itself.The current standoff between United States of America (U.S) and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuelah seems all too familiar. It happened just like this exactly 63 years ago, in 1962. The Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, in what was a (U.S)- Russia showdown. But in this new dubbed "Cuban Missile Crisis of 21st century " . .. it is (U.S)- Venezuelah stand off, at least on paper, a closer analysis shows that it is or may, in reality, a (U.S)- Venezuelah (Russia behind)stand off. Offcourse, with new actors around in form of China, Iran and possibly North Korea backing Caracas (Venezuelah). Then the near battleground was Cuba and now the looming battleground looks like Venezuelah. Just like the then Cuban leader, Fidel Castro reached out to Russia, the current President of Venezuela, Nicholas Maduro is or has reached out to Russia as his last and strongest ally. And Moscow, though distracted by its Ukraine war, seems to be obliging, and has already begun sending signals of "unwavering support".

Oil Rich Venezuelah
It is a well know fact that Venezuelah has the largest oil reserves in the entire world.Venezuela holds the largest proven oil reserves. Most of such oil reserves are located in what is termed the Oronoco Belt Oil Reserves along Orinoco river.Venezuelah is estimated to hold an average of 304 billion barrels of oil compared to Saudi Arabia's 267 billion barrels and (U.S)'s 70 billion barrels of oil. In the 1970s Venezuelah became one of the richest nations in Latin America pumping an average of 3 million barrels of oil daily much of it exported to (U.S). However, when oil prices collapsed, the Oil- dependent economy of Venezuela also plummeted down.

Oil- A Blessing & A Curse For Venezuelah

Oil has been the reason why Venezuelah used to be an energy giant economy and remains an oil reserve world monster despite economic struggles in the recent decades. However, this oil dependency, offcourse with (U.S) sanctions explain why Venezuelah is in current economic doldrums.

Unravelling Of An Oil Dependent Economy

In the 1970s Venezuelah was an energy giant Latin America economy. Because of rise in oil prices in the 1970s, the economy of Venezuela experienced a boom and industrialisation. Skyscrapers, modern highways, infrastructure were built. And at one point in time, Venezuelah per Gross Domestic Product per Capita was richer than European nations of Spain or Greece. Enter the 1980s oil prices collapsed. Venezuelah economy experienced a serious depression. The economy fall, corruption, mismanagement and political unrest grew. In the 1990s Venezuelah's economic hardships continued, paving the way for the rise of Leftist and popular leader Hugo Chavez who became President of Venezuela in 1999. In the early 2000s for a short time rising oil prices gave a modicum of growth and stability for Venezuelah economy. Even Chavez populist socialist policies thrived. In 2010 declining oil prices meant, once again, the Venezuelah economy was again in trouble. Come 2013, Hugo Chavez was dead and his chosen successor Nicholas Maduro inherited not only the Socialist Bolivian revolutionary policies but a basically dead and dangerous economy.

By 2015 the Venezuelah economy was in serious deep trouble. Inflation galloped into three digit figures, economic hardships hit hard the citizens of Venezuela. And an estimated seven million (7) Venezuelahans left Venezuelah for Brazil, Colombia and beyond. Protest rose and the opposition to Maduro gained control of Venezuela National Assembly, giving serious challenge to Maduro's rule. Nicholas Maduro responded by tightening grip unto power, in the process, sidelining institutions, creating new security and crushing down dissent to his rule. In 2015, (U.S) declared Venezuelah as (U.S)'s national security threat. What followed was a litany of (U.S) and international sanctions against Caracas regime. Up to date over 900 restrictions were imposed by (U.S) and her allies against Venezuelah targeting Venezuelah oil companies, gold exports, banks, its financial institution as well as Venezuelah officials. Maduro's admnstration had been forced to court other powers for sanction evasion. Since then,Maduro's admnstration leaned heavily towards China and Russia for loans,weapons and intelligence.China, Russia, and Iran have been helping Nicolás Maduro Venezeulah survive (U.S) and international sanctions. China has been providing economic lifelines, Russia providing mostly military support, and Iran technological assistance.All this has been serving as a geopolitical shield against external pressures.Their support had been alleviating Venezuela's isolation and providing practical mechanisms for Venezuelah sanctions evasion.

Drugs
It all started as a drug issue or the world was made to believe so. (U.S) President Trump claims Venezuelah is flooding (U.S) with drugs. But now the whole thing has escalated into something else. (U.S) President Donald Trump described Venezuelah as a "Narco- State " and it's President Nicholas Maduro a "Drug Kingpin". However, the (U.S) strikes in the waterways of Carribean has gone beyond law enforcement.. it's now millitary action.On the 2nd September of 2025 in a reported first strike of it's kind blew up a boat in international waters killing 11 people.Trump said that the small boat was smuggling drugs on behalf of the Tren de Aragua (TDA) gang,

“TDA is a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, operating under the control of Nicolas Maduro, responsible for mass murder, drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and acts of violence and terror across the United States and Western Hemisphere,”

Trump posted.
On September 15, 2025 (U.S) made a second strike killing three people aboard another Venezuelan vessel.President Trump later told reporters that,

“we have proof” the boat’s passengers were transporting drugs. All you have to do is look at the cargo that was…spattered all over the ocean. Big bags of cocaine and fentanyl all over the place,”

Maduro condemned the operation, calling it a “criminal attack" and accused Washington of manufacturing evidence to justify aggression. On September 19, 2025 (U.S) carried out another third strike in the Caribbean. The vessel attacked was said to be,

“passage en route to poison Americans”.

On October 3rd of 2025 (U.S) carried another attack in the southern Caribbean, again destroying a small boat and killing four people that (U.S) officials said were involved in drug trafficking. (U.S) Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he ordered the strike, and President Trump stated on Truth Social that the boat was,

“loaded with enough drugs to kill 25 TO 50 THOUSAND PEOPLE ”

and claimed that the boat was on the way to,
“entering American Territory”

(though as observers claimed, the strike occurred more than 200 miles from the nearest (U.S) exclusive economic zone). On October 14, 2025 (U.S)strike another suspected drug boat. Trump confirmed the operation on Truth Social and described the target as part of “narcoterrorist networks" Republican and Democratic lawmakers voiced growing concern. Senator Adam Schiff of California said the president’s war powers did not extend to preemptive strikes of this kind and that,

“these continued strikes—27 killed to date—risk getting the (U.S) into a full-fledged war.”

In Venezuela, National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez accused Washington of spreading “lies” to justify what he called preparations for an invasion. On October 16, 2025 (U.S) carried out another strike, this time leaving two survivors who were rescued by a (U.S) Navy helicopter and taken aboard (U.S) warship. The two survivors were later identified as citizens of Colombia and Ecuador and were repatriated to their home countries.Venezuela’s ambassador to the United Nations, Samuel Moncada, denounced the strike during a United Nations (UN) session, declaring that,

“there is a killer roaming around the Caribbean”

and that the (U.S),
“is killing everyone who is in the sea working. And people from different countries Colombia, Trinidad, etc. are suffering the effects of these massacre”.

On October 17, 2025 (U.S) carried out a seventh maritime strike, targeting a vessel that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said was transporting “substantial amounts of narcotics ” and linked to Colombia’s National Liberation Army (ELN) rebel group. On October 21, 2025, (U.S) conducted an eighth strike, an expanded the campaign into the Pacific Ocean. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the attack on his X account,claiming two people were killed.

“Narco-terrorists intending to bring poison to our shores will find no safe harbor anywhere in our hemisphere. Just as al-Qaeda waged war on our homeland, these cartels are waging war on our border and our people. There will be no refuge or forgiveness—only justice".

On October 22, 2025 Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a ninth (U.S)strike, again in the eastern Pacific Ocean, reporting that three men were killed. In his accompanying post Hegseth wrote,

“These strikes will continue, day after day. These are not simply drug runners—these are narco-terrorists bringing death and destruction to our cities”.

Come October 27, 2025 four boats were struck in the Eastern Pacific by the United States military. This event marked the first time that multiple strikes were carried out in the same day. According to Hegseth, there were three kinetic strikes on four vessels that killed a total of 14 people, and left one survivor. Hegseth announced the strikes on social media and stated that the survivor was in custody of Mexico’s search and rescue authorities. Once more on October 29, 2025 (U.S) Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on social media that the (U.S) military had carried out a strike on a boat allegedly transporting drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing all four people aboard. Come November 1, 2025 Hegseth announced on social media that the (U.S) military carried out a lethal strike in the Caribbean adding that,

"These narco-terrorists are bringing drugs to our shores to poison Americans at home—and they will not succeed. The Department will treat them EXACTLY how we treated Al-Qaeda. We will continue to track them, map them, hunt them, and kill them".

On November 4, 2025 two individuals were killed in a 16th strike carried out by the United States in the eastern Pacific. Defense Secretary Hegseth again announced the strike on social media, stating,

“We will find and terminate EVERY vessel with the intention of trafficking drugs to America to poison our citizens. Protecting the homeland is our TOP priority. NO cartel terrorist stands a chance against the American military."

On November 6, 2025 the (US)carried out a 17th strike against a vessel in the Caribbean, killing three people on board. On November 9, 2025, two more strikes in the eastern Pacific were announced by Hegseth on social media the following day; they were the 18th and 19th strikes carried out by the United States. Enter November 13, 2025, U.S announced that it had carried out its 20th strike on a vessel in the Caribbean, killing four people.Then, another strike on November 15, 2025 and on November 16, 2025, (U.S) announced on social media that its military had carried out its 21st known strike on a vessel killing 3 raising the total number of people reported killed in (U.S) military operations against alleged drug-trafficking boats to 83.

“We’ve taken a very hard stand on drugs…the water drugs—the drugs that come in through water they’re not coming—there are no boats anymore, frankly there are no fishing boats, there’s no boats out there period", Trump speaking to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on October 7, 2025

Reaction To (U.S) Drug Attacks In The Caribbean

These (U.S) operations drew sharp criticism from international organizations and foreign governments. United Nations human rights experts warned that the strikes could violate fundamental international norms, arguing that,

“international law does not allow governments to simply murder alleged drug traffickers”.

and that all states must,
“respect the right to life, including when acting on the high seas or in foreign territory".

They also cautioned that the repeated use of lethal force in maritime operations blurred the line between law enforcement and armed conflict.

Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro condemned one of the operations as “murder” and accused Washington of violating regional sovereignty. Most other regional governments remained cautious, issuing no formal statements but expressing unease about the growing (U.S)military presence in Caribbean waters.

Is Drug The Real Issue?
According to narcotic experts drug boats from Venezuela are mainly moving cocaine to Europe — not fentanyl to the (U.S).The realities of Latin America’s drug trade challenge the administration’s stated rationale for its strikes against suspected drug smuggling boats. But drug cartels operating vessels in the Caribbean, where roughly 50% of the airstrikes have taken place, are mainly moving cocaine from South America to Europe — not to the United States. And the deadliest drug of all, fentanyl, is almost exclusively smuggled over land from Mexico to Europe, the officials and experts say.

The Colombian leader noted that, Venezuela is not considered a major drug producer and that only a relatively small portion of the global drugs trade flows through the country. So why is (U.S) all over Venezuelah on drug issue?

Colombia’s president alleged the Trump administration’s pressure campaign on Venezuela is more about accessing the South American country’s oil than fighting drug trafficking.

"(Oil) is at the heart of the matter,”

Colombian President Gustavo Petro told CNN in an exclusive interview, noting that Venezuela has what are considered the,

"largest oil reserves in the world"
"So, that’s a negotiation about oil. I believe that is (US President Donald) Trump’s logic.He’s not thinking about the democratization of Venezuela, let alone the narco-trafficking”, Gustavo Petro, Colombian President.

In a letter to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) that was published by Venezuelan state media, President Maduro accused the (U.S) of seeking to

“appropriate Venezuela’s vast oil reserves – the largest on the planet – through the lethal use of military force".

" I hope to count on your best efforts to help stop this aggression, which is growing stronger and seriously threatens the balance of the international energy market, both for producing and consuming countries”, President Maduro of BRV according to a copy of the letter published by state broadcaster TeleSUR.

(U.S) Geopolitical Dominance
The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela(BRV) is bordered on the north by the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Colombia, Brazil on the south, Trinidad and Tobago to the north-east and on the east by Guyana. This places Venezuelah as a strategic gateway on major sea and air routes between North and South America, providing easy access to international markets via air, sea, and land. Venezeulah is located at a meeting point of Atlantic ocean and Pacific ocean through the Panama strait.The Panama strait is equal to the Hormuz strait in the Middle East, a very important trade route or "chokepoint" to global trade.The Panama Strait sees over 14 000 ships pass carrying an average of 330 million tonnes of cargo annually. A very very important trade corridor. And there is Venezuelah sitting right at the center of such a geography...a geopolitical and millitary strategic position. Whoever controls it has leverage and influence in global trade, in access both North and South America and leverage in the event of conflict in the Americas or the Carribean.

Monroe Doctrine 1823
The Monroe Doctrine was articulated by the then President of (U.S) James Monroe in his 1823 address to Congress at a time when many Latin American nations were gaining independence from Spain.The Monroe Doctrine became part and parcel of (U.S) foreign policy even to the modern era, which opposed European or any other power colonialism or political interference in the region as a direct hostile act against (U.S). Even in the modern era Monroe Doctrine remained a critical aspect of (U.S) foreign policy in a bid to still maintain its geopolitical dominance of the region, a region considered (U.S) backyard. However, the late Hugo Chavez and now Nicholas Maduro defied it by bringing in China, Russia, Iran even India to this region....a backyard of (U.S) and Washington is not at all pleased. Washington's actions could be pivoting away from China toward “protecting the homeland and the Western Hemisphere,” effectively reviving the old Monroe Doctrine under new terms. Washington need to be seen as maintaining or projecting power and dominance in it's traditional backyard.

Enemies At The Backyard
The United States has long identified four countries— Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran and a non-state entity— Al-Qaed and its derivatives—as its main enemies. These remain the strategic adversaries for the (U.S). And now three of those eternal enemies are already in what (U.S) considers it's own backyard... China is making large-scale commercial agreements and infrastructure investments with Venezuelah .China is building ports and establishing trade routes. China is already there competing with the (U.S) in (US)’s own “backyard”. Russia is providing military support and intelligence to Venezuela. This is a huge problem for the United States, particularly because Russia now has more advanced military technology than the (U.S) in many respects. Iran is providing drones to beef up Venezuelah's defense system. It is a well known and open secret that presence of these powers are weighing heavily on Washington DC. And who is responsible for such a headache Caracas;(Venezuelah)admnstration.

Venezuelah Now A Hostile Actor In Traditionally (U.S) Region.

Chavez & Maduro have brought other powers at (U.S) backyard. Chinese have poured billions in oil and infrastructure. Russia has and is providing millitary support and intelligence. Iran's drones are part and parcel of Venezuela's defense system.(U.S) is not amused because it feels, Carribean is their region and no other foreign power should come to project power and interest,in a region (U.S) traditionally consider as own backyard. In return, Venezuelah has sold oil at discounted price to China, Russia etc. Facing isolation because of (U.S) sanctions and economic collapse, Maduro has leaned heavily on Russia support, from millitary support, oil deals financial aid, millitary and security intelligence.In short, there is deepening millitary cooperation between Caracas and Moscow. In return, Venezuelah has offered Russia a strong foothold, in a region traditionally dominated by (U.S)_ a development Washington DC is not happy with.

Vital Geography
Venezuelah's strategic location is vital in military and security considerations, especially seen in the context of potential conflicts in the Caribbean region. Venezuelah's coastline stretches a continuous stretch of an average 2800 kilometers...making it one of the longest continuous coastline in the Carribean. Along the coastline are various critical trading ports like Puerto Cabello (largest overall), La Guaira (main hub for capital Caracas, crucial for imports/exports), Maracaibo (vital for oil/oil products), and Guanta (supporting eastern regions, general cargo/oil).These trading ports are dangerously close to international trading lanes and also, within striking distance of (U.S) and it's allies.This geopolitical, strategic and millitary importance of the geography of Venezuela makes it a very important country which (U.S) does not like to see under the influence of her trade and millitary rivals... China, Russia, North Korea or Iran. Of which Maduro's Venezuelah has survived (U.S) sanctions, international isolation by inviting and encouraging billions of Chinese oil investments, by seeking millitary support and intelligence from Russia and North Korea. Even Venezuelah's defense system comprises of Iran drones. All this, in exchange of discounted oil resources to those countries. And (U.S) detests that in a region which it's traditionally considers it's own, since then, 1823. A region which it sees as its own backyard. Surely in the eyes of (U.S), powerful Chinese, Russian , Iran even North Korea political, strategic and millitary interests and influence is not welcome. Hence, the desire to deal with Maduro and possibly replace with admnstration which is more pro-United States of America. Seen from such a perspective, this Washington DC- Caracas standoff, hostility is a fight by (U.S) to assert its geopolitical and geographical dominance* in the region its projection of power and not about democracy or drugs.

Conclusion
Why is (U.S) risking a front close to it's shores? Why is (U.S) bothered about BRV? a country others described as a collapsing Petro state. History, geography and what lies underneath Venezuelah soil, the resource- oil, have all combined to make BRV part of the new chesseboard for (U.S) in the Carribean. Dynamics of this conflict can change balance of power not only in the Western world but entire world. Its (U.S) against BRV on paper, but it's an open secret other powers, Russia, China, Iran and possibly North Korea are in, siding with BVR. The current hostility between Washington DC and Caracas is neither about democratisation, nor about drugs. It is all about oil and maintenance of (U.S) geopolitical dominance of the Carribean or Latin America region, a region traditionally considered (U S) backyard. Oil is at the heart of everything in this confrontation. Fighting for democracy is not the reason and drugs are a mere convinient excuse, even though drug-trafficking especially using waterways is real and problematic in the Caribbean.

F. Madondo (African Teacher) fortmada123@gmail.com

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