The United States said on Saturday it had attacked Venezuela as part of efforts to curb drug trafficking from the South American nation.
Venezuelan officials, however, accused Washington of seeking control over the country’s vast oil reserves and mineral wealth, while analysts point to U.S. efforts to disrupt Venezuelan oil exports to China as a key underlying factor.
Explosions heard
Venezuela declared a national emergency on Saturday after explosions were reported in the capital Caracas and the states of Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira. The government accused the United States of military aggression aimed at seizing the country’s natural resources.
“The U.S. goal of the attack is to take possession of our oil and minerals,” the Venezuelan government said in a statement. “They will not succeed in taking our resources.”
In a post on Truth Social, U.S. President Donald Trump said American forces had “successfully carried out a large-scale attack against Venezuela,” adding that President Nicolás Maduro and his wife had been captured and flown out of the country.
The strikes followed months of escalating pressure from Trump, who has accused Maduro’s government of flooding the United States with drugs. Venezuelan authorities have repeatedly denied any involvement in narcotics trafficking.
Witnesses reported explosions and black smoke across Caracas for about 90 minutes, prompting Maduro to mobilize defense forces. A power outage also hit the southern part of the city near a major military base, according to eyewitness accounts.
Disrupting flows to China
Venezuelan accusations of U.S. resource ambitions come amid broader geopolitical tensions.
As a member of OPEC, Venezuela has significantly increased oil exports to China in recent years, providing Beijing with an alternative energy source amid rising U.S.-China trade frictions. Analysts say Washington is increasingly concerned about these flows, viewing them as strengthening China’s economic position.
While U.S. officials publicly frame their actions as part of counter-narcotics efforts, analysts suggest that disrupting Venezuelan energy shipments to China may also be a strategic objective.
Key background
Trump has repeatedly threatened land operations in Venezuela and on Monday suggested that Maduro should step down. The United States and several allies accuse Maduro of rigging last year’s election to remain in power. He has governed the country since 2013.
Washington has expanded its military presence in the region, deploying an aircraft carrier, warships, and advanced fighter jets to the Caribbean. It has also imposed a blockade on Venezuelan oil, tightened sanctions on Maduro’s government, and targeted vessels it claims are linked to drug smuggling.
Last week, Trump said U.S. forces struck an area in Venezuela allegedly used to load boats carrying narcotics.
Neither the White House nor the Venezuelan foreign ministry immediately responded to requests for further comment.
