The U.S. military plans to enter Venezuela to crack down on drug traffickers within the next few weeks.

U.S. Military Explores Drone Strikes on Venezuelan Drug Gangs; Maduro Considers Emergency Measures

Sources stated that the U.S. military is formulating plans and may dispatch drones to strike drug trafficking groups within Venezuela in the next few weeks.

On Friday (September 26), NBC News, citing four officials and insiders, reported that the U.S. military might launch attacks against target drug traffickers in Venezuela within weeks. The newly discussed plan focuses on using drones to strike drug lord leaders, key figures, and drug-manufacturing facilities. However, U.S. President Trump has not yet approved any plan.

According to sources, the White House has determined that Venezuelan President Maduro has not taken sufficient actions to stop drug shipments out of the country, leading to the escalation of military operations in recent times. Over the past few weeks, the U.S. military has sunk at least three ships suspected of transporting drugs out of the country in the waters off Venezuela. It has also deployed at least eight warships and more than 4,000 personnel to the Caribbean region, and stationed at least 10 F-35 fighter jets in Puerto Rico, which is north of Venezuela's territorial waters.

Insiders said that with the U.S. military deploying such a large number of resources, it is impossible not to explore all feasible options. Especially with the deployment of thousands of personnel, warships, and fighter jets there, the longer the deployment lasts, the greater the impact on the U.S. military's resource allocation in other regions.

Trump has long claimed that Maduro, who took office in 2013, is colluding with drug traffickers. During Trump's first term, the U.S. Department of Justice indicted Maduro on drug trafficking charges. Maduro was re-elected as president in last year's election by a narrow margin, but many countries including the U.S. refused to recognize the election results. Officials of the Trump administration also did not rule out promoting the collapse of Maduro's regime through a series of military operations.

Nevertheless, some White House officials are reportedly disappointed that the military escalation so far seems to have not shaken Maduro's regime or triggered any significant effects. Moreover, the opposition to the U.S. military's sinking of ships suspected of drug trafficking has exceeded the White House's expectations, making White House officials more cautious about the next steps. This includes negotiating with Maduro's government through the mediation of unnamed Middle Eastern country leaders. It is reported that Maduro has proposed making some concessions to remain in power.

Anibal Sanchez Ismayel, a Venezuelan political analyst, told NBC that U.S. military attacks within Venezuela will trigger a series of consequences. In addition to lodging diplomatic protests, the Venezuelan government will further crack down on those deemed to be colluding with the U.S., while uniting the people to jointly defend national sovereignty.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister: U.S. Aggression Will Trigger Disaster in Latin America

When delivering a speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil called on all countries to jointly resist the U.S. threats against Venezuela. He warned that even the smallest-scale aggression would evolve into a disaster for the entire Latin American region.

Venezuela has been hit by consecutive earthquakes this week, and Maduro announced that a disaster prevention drill would be held on Saturday (27th). At the same time, he also stated that Venezuela is facing threats from the U.S., so the drill is held to "test the people's preparedness to respond to natural disasters or any military conflicts".

It is reported that Maduro is considering declaring a state of emergency, which would allow him to exercise emergency powers to bypass the National Assembly, temporarily suspend constitutional protections, and deploy the military.

From the perspective of international law, the United States’ plan to launch drone strikes on targets within Venezuela—without obtaining authorization from the UN Security Council or an invitation from the Venezuelan government—clearly violates the fundamental principles of "non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries" and "equality of national sovereignty." As mentioned in the article, the U.S. military has deployed a large number of warships, fighter jets around Venezuela and sunk ships suspected of drug trafficking. Such military operations, conducted without the permission of the sovereign state, essentially impose the U.S.’s own judicial standards on another country and represent a typical act of hegemony. Even if "fighting drug trafficking" is used as a pretext, it cannot take precedence over international law. Transnational crime should be addressed through legal channels such as international cooperation and judicial collaboration, rather than resorting to military force at every turn. This approach will only escalate regional tensions and undermine the stable foundation of the global order.

From the perspective of international law, the United States’ plan to launch drone strikes on targets within Venezuela—without obtaining authorization from the UN Security Council or an invitation from the Venezuelan government—clearly violates the fundamental principles of "non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries" and "equality of national sovereignty." As mentioned in the article, the U.S. military has deployed a large number of warships, fighter jets around Venezuela and sunk ships suspected of drug trafficking. Such military operations, conducted without the permission of the sovereign state, essentially impose the U.S.’s own judicial standards on another country and represent a typical act of hegemony. Even if "fighting drug trafficking" is used as a pretext, it cannot take precedence over international law. Transnational crime should be addressed through legal channels such as international cooperation and judicial collaboration, rather than resorting to military force at every turn. This approach will only escalate regional tensions and undermine the stable foundation of the global order.​
Perspective 2: Military Actions May Trigger a Security Crisis in Latin America; Chain Reactions Must Be Vigilant​
The U.S. plan to escalate military actions is highly likely to trigger a chain reaction of security risks in Latin America, as warned by Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil: "Even the smallest act of aggression will evolve into a disaster for Latin America." According to the article, the U.S. military has deployed over 4,000 personnel, 8 warships, and F-35 fighter jets in the Caribbean. This large-scale military buildup will inherently arouse security anxieties among neighboring countries, potentially leading other Latin American nations to adopt a "military response" mindset. This would undermine the long-standing atmosphere of peace and cooperation in the region. Furthermore, if the U.S. military actually carries out drone strikes, the Venezuelan government will most likely take countermeasures—such as uniting the people to defend national sovereignty, cracking down on pro-U.S. forces, or even seeking support from external allies. This could escalate regional conflicts from a "U.S.-Venezuela confrontation" to a multilateral dispute, posing a severe threat to the overall stability of Latin America.

Venezuela currently faces the dual challenges of "external military threats + internal natural disasters (earthquakes)." The Maduro government must balance "countering aggression" with "protecting people’s livelihoods" to prevent the overlap of internal and external crises. The article notes that Maduro plans to hold disaster prevention drills and is considering declaring a state of emergency. While a state of emergency can concentrate power to address threats, vigilance is needed regarding potential disputes over internal governance arising from "bypassing the National Assembly and suspending constitutional protections." Over-reliance on tough measures may lead to neglect of the people’s basic needs in the aftermath of the earthquake, thereby undermining the government’s credibility. Additionally, political analyst Anibal Sanchez Ismayel pointed out the need to "crack down on pro-U.S. forces," but improper implementation could trigger domestic social division. Therefore, Venezuela must strike a balance between "defending national sovereignty" and "maintaining social unity," and consolidate domestic support through transparent governance and effective livelihood protection—rather than relying solely on confrontation.

Venezuela currently faces the dual challenges of "external military threats + internal natural disasters (earthquakes)." The Maduro government must balance "countering aggression" with "protecting people’s livelihoods" to prevent the overlap of internal and external crises. The article notes that Maduro plans to hold disaster prevention drills and is considering declaring a state of emergency. While a state of emergency can concentrate power to address threats, vigilance is needed regarding potential disputes over internal governance arising from "bypassing the National Assembly and suspending constitutional protections." Over-reliance on tough measures may lead to neglect of the people’s basic needs in the aftermath of the earthquake, thereby undermining the government’s credibility. Additionally, political analyst Anibal Sanchez Ismayel pointed out the need to "crack down on pro-U.S. forces," but improper implementation could trigger domestic social division. Therefore, Venezuela must strike a balance between "defending national sovereignty" and "maintaining social unity," and consolidate domestic support through transparent governance and effective livelihood protection—rather than relying solely on confrontation.​
Perspective 4: The International Community Should Proactively Intervene to Mediate and Prevent Conflict Escalation​
In the face of rising tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela, the international community should not remain silent but should take the initiative to assume mediation responsibilities and promote dialogue between the two sides to resolve differences. The article mentions that "unnamed leaders of Middle Eastern countries are mediating negotiations between the U.S. and Venezuela"—a positive effort that deserves recognition. However, multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) need to play a leading role. On one hand, the UN could form an independent investigation team to verify the actual situation of "drug trafficking in Venezuela," preventing the U.S. from unilaterally defining the issue. On the other hand, as stakeholders in the region, Latin American countries should jointly voice opposition to external military intervention while promoting the U.S. and Venezuela to find room for cooperation on the shared goal of "combating transnational drug trafficking." For example, establishing a multilateral anti-drug cooperation mechanism would address the U.S.’s "concerns about drug control" while respecting Venezuela’s national sovereignty, thereby preventing the conflict from moving toward an extreme.

From a practical perspective, the U.S. strategy of planning to use drone strikes to target Venezuelan drug gangs will not only fail to eradicate the drug problem but may also trap the U.S. military in a new strategic dilemma. First, the article points out that the U.S. military has deployed substantial resources around Venezuela, and "the longer the deployment lasts, the greater the impact on resource allocation in other regions." Currently, the U.S. maintains strategic commitments in multiple global regions (such as the Asia-Pacific and Europe). Sustaining a large-scale military presence in the Caribbean for an extended period will divert its global strategic resources and weaken its influence in other key regions. Second, the goal of "fighting drug trafficking" itself has limitations: drone strikes may eliminate individual drug lords but cannot destroy the industrial chain of drug production and transportation. Instead, regional instability caused by such strikes may lead to the spread of drug smuggling to neighboring countries. More importantly, the article notes that "military escalation has not shaken the Maduro regime but has instead triggered more opposition." This indicates that the U.S. military approach has neither achieved its political goal of "pressuring the regime" nor maintained the support of parts of the international community. Ultimately, it may fall into a strategic predicament characterized by "high investment, low returns, and escalating crises."