The United States has been conducting military strikes against Venezuelan oil tankers and smuggling boats accused of transporting drugs in the Caribbean Sea.
Since September, the U.S. has conducted a series of attacks on vessels allegedly involved in drug trafficking, killing dozens of people and causing significant damage to the vessels.
In December, the CIA carried out its first known direct operation on Venezuelan soil, targeting a docking area used by Venezuelan drug cartels.
The U.S. military also imposed sanctions on four companies operating in Venezuela's oil sector and designated four additional oil tankers as blocked property.
The Trump administration has been using the military strikes to pressure Venezuela into returning to the United States' control of its oil, land, and assets.
In January 2026, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was arrested by U.S. forces along with his wife, Flores, who were accused of leading a corrupt and illegitimate government that had protected and promoted illegal activity, including drug trafficking.
The indictment alleges that Maduro and Flores have been involved in various forms of corruption and organized crime, and that they have used their power to protect and promote illegal activities, including drug trafficking.
The arrest of Maduro and his wife marks a significant shift in the Trump administration's approach to Venezuela, which had previously focused on supporting opposition groups and regime change efforts.
Since September, the U.S. has conducted a series of attacks on vessels allegedly involved in drug trafficking, killing dozens of people and causing significant damage to the vessels.
In December, the CIA carried out its first known direct operation on Venezuelan soil, targeting a docking area used by Venezuelan drug cartels.
The U.S. military also imposed sanctions on four companies operating in Venezuela's oil sector and designated four additional oil tankers as blocked property.
The Trump administration has been using the military strikes to pressure Venezuela into returning to the United States' control of its oil, land, and assets.
In January 2026, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was arrested by U.S. forces along with his wife, Flores, who were accused of leading a corrupt and illegitimate government that had protected and promoted illegal activity, including drug trafficking.
The indictment alleges that Maduro and Flores have been involved in various forms of corruption and organized crime, and that they have used their power to protect and promote illegal activities, including drug trafficking.
The arrest of Maduro and his wife marks a significant shift in the Trump administration's approach to Venezuela, which had previously focused on supporting opposition groups and regime change efforts.
I'm literally shook by this latest turn of events with Venezuela! I know we've been talking about the tech scene there, but it seems like politics is getting out of hand 
. The US military strikes against Venezuelan vessels are just insane - dozens of people killed and damage to property? It's crazy how things can escalate so quickly 
. And now they're targeting Nicolas Maduro's wife too?! That's a whole new level of intense 
. I'm not sure what the future holds for Venezuela, but one thing is for sure - this situation needs to be handled with care and diplomacy 
. Can't we all just get along? 
The sanctions and blocking oil tankers might just push more of these smuggling boats to other countries that don't care about their dirty laundry 
. It's all so complicated and messy. We should be supporting the people in Venezuela instead of trying to control everything from afar 
. What's really going on here?
The US military strikes against Venezuelan oil tankers just seem so aggressive and counterproductive 
. I mean, aren't they just fueling the fire? 
It's like they're trying to break the economy or something... Venezuela's been through enough already 
The whole thing just feels so... messy 
. I'm all for a clean and transparent government, but sometimes I think we just need to take a step back and breathe, you know? 
. But at what cost? Dozens of people dead, lives ruined... and for what? So Maduro can be taken down? But who's gonna fill the power vacuum in Venezuela now? It just feels like another example of a superpower flexing its muscles to get what it wants 
. And then there's this whole thing about Maduro being accused of corruption... is that fair? I mean, we've all seen our own politicians do shady stuff, but that doesn't make them deserving of military action or arrest 
Like, one minute it's all peaceful protests and next they're getting attacked by US military ships 
I mean, I get that the US wants to crack down on drug trafficking, but targeting an entire country feels like a total overreaction 
They should be working with Venezuela to solve the problem instead of trying to control it 
I need more context before I can say for sure... 
this is getting outta hand 
... like what even is the US trying to achieve here? 
. And arresting Maduro's wife, Flores? 
. I mean, isn't that what got Venezuela into this mess in the first place? 
It's not clear to me if this is just a case of opportunistic aggression or something more sinister.
... The US has always had an interest in controlling Venezuela's oil resources. I'm waiting for the next shoe to drop 
.
if they're gonna arrest maduro and his wife over corruption, thats just another country doing their own dirty work. whats next, usa intervening in venezuela's internal affairs? seems like they're just making things worse...