US Attacks Venezuela
- Feb 15
- 3 min read
By Amie Anh Feb. 11, 2026
On the early morning of Jan. 3, U.S. forces bombed Caracas, Venezuela, killing more than 80 people and capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flore. As of Feb. 4, Maduro awaits trial at Metropolitan Detention Center in New York for federal charges of narco-terrorism and drug-trafficking.
The Trump administration defended the military operation by claiming that Maduro was facilitating drug trafficking and immigration of drug cartels into the U.S. The Trump administration has always labeled Maduro a criminal and accused his government of corruption, drug trafficking and human rights abuses. Targeting alleged drug smugglers leaving Venezuela, U.S. naval vessels have conducted strikes on their boats since September 2025, expanding its military presence in the region in the months leading up to the Jan. 3 attack. The recent attack is part of a larger campaign declared by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in November 2025—Operation Southern Spear—which aims to combat “narco-terrorism” in the Caribbean. Narco-terrorism is the use of violence and terror tactics by drug-traffickers to influence government policy and undermine anti-drug laws.
The attack lacked statutory authorization, meaning Congress did not provide an explicit grant of power.
This effectively breaches the War Powers Resolution, which was established in 1973 after the Vietnam War to limit the president’s power in committing armed forces to conflict without Congressional approval. Additionally, legal experts note the strikes could also be considered violations of the Alien Tort Statute, which allows foreign citizens to sue over human rights violations—the possibility of wrongful deaths puts the U.S. government under legal scrutiny that could expose it to potential international lawsuits. Beyond these immediate consequences, many citizens also express concern that this unauthorized attack could set a precedent for future unchecked executive power and imperial presidency.
“The U.S. attack shows a disregard for foreign diplomacy, especially since the decision involving Venezuela was made without the consent of the UN Security Council. It builds fear between countries that they might be subjected to illegal U.S. intervention next,” Junior Mahika Shirshyad said.
The U.S. attack on Venezuela also has strong underlying economic motives. Trump announced that the U.S. would control Venezuela’s oil industry and oil exports. Trump emphasized a new era of “Donroe Doctrine,” referencing the 1823 Monroe Doctrine, to justify reasserting U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere and countering Russian and Chinese influence. Many people have expressed the danger in this open violation of international law as a threat to global security. Politicians such as Jorge Heine, a veteran Chile diplomat, have critiqued the administration’s moves, arguing that dominance cannot be maintained through outdated 19th-century tactics, which he claims will ultimately damage U.S. influence rather than expand it by weakening its credibility abroad.
Trump stated that he plans to funnel Venezuelan oil into top U.S. oil companies, including Chevron and ExxonMobil. The companies are expected to benefit greatly from this redirection of Venezuelan oil flow to the U.S., which involves the sale of 30 to 50 million barrels with the first oil sale on Jan. 14 valued at $500 million. Venezuelan acting president Delcy Rodriguez is cooperating with directing Venezuelan oil revenues to U.S.-controlled bank accounts in efforts to restore diplomatic relations with the U.S. and defend Venezuela.
Environmental experts warn that boosting oil production in Venezuelan oil reserves will exacerbate environmental destruction and harm public health, per LA Times. This is specifically because Venezuelan oil reserves produce a denser and stickier oil called heavy crude, requiring more extraction energy. It therefore emits more pollution than other forms of oil and causes severe environmental damage.
“Environmental consequences are often overlooked in international conflicts, because it is easy to ignore the immediate severity of environmental impacts. Government administrations frequently carry out its agenda without considering other factors as well, including basic human rights. It is really scary that environmental costs that directly result from conflicts like this may go by unnoticed until the damage is irreversible,” Sophomore Rhea Bambawale said.
As the U.S. government continues to intervene in Venezuela’s military and political affairs, historians and foreign policy experts warn that this could reshape U.S. relations with Latin America for years to come, with long-term consequences for international relations, human rights and environment. The resulting political instability in Venezuela threatens diplomatic ties worldwide and increasingly jeopardizes the security of human rights within the country.
About the Contributors
Amie Anh
Community News and Feature World Editor
Amie Ahn is a junior at Leland High School and a page editor for The Charger Account. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with friends, binging kdramas, and dancing.
Krio Moon
artist
Krio Moon is a junior at Leland and an artist for The Charger Account. Outside of school, she likes to play tennis, watch superhero movies, and read books.
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