US forces are carrying out a military operation in the Venezuelan capital Caracas to capture President Nicolas Maduro and his wife and take them to the United States. This sudden incident has created an unprecedented and dramatic turn in the long-standing tension between the United States and Venezuela, as well as a strong reaction around the world. But the question has arisen: what is the root cause of this hostility between the United States and Venezuela?

The root causes of the conflict between Venezuela and the United States are long-standing political, economic, and human rights-related, which began under Hugo Chavez and has intensified under Nicolás Maduro.

Hugo Chavez and the ‘Bolivarian Revolution’

The rift between the United States and Venezuela in the post-Cold War world began with the rise to power of Hugo Chavez in 1999. The former army officer was elected president with overwhelming support from Venezuela’s poor. He called for the overthrow of the existing political system and the establishment of “21st-century socialism,” which became known as the Bolivarian Revolution.

Political and electoral debates

Maduro was declared the winner of the 2024 Venezuelan presidential election, but many countries, including the United States, and international observers called it a fraud. In contrast, Maduro’s rival candidate, Edmundo González, was considered the winner. As a result, the United States considers Maduro an illegitimate ruler and does not recognize his government.

Drug, terrorism and crime allegations

The US administration has been calling Maduro a ‘narco-terrorist’. The US administration has long accused Maduro of running a drug empire in Venezuela, where drugs are produced and shipped to the United States. For this reason, an arrest warrant was issued against Maduro in 2020. Washington even announced a $50 million reward for his arrest or detention.

On Saturday, US Attorney General Pam Bondi said that Maduro was detained in 2020 on an arrest warrant. He is charged with drug trafficking, arms smuggling, cocaine importation, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess destructive devices against the United States.

Illegal immigration

US President Trump has accused the Maduro government of deliberately releasing prisoners from its prisons and mental hospitals and sending them to the United States, which is a threat to US security.

Oil and economic interests

Venezuela has the world’s largest oil reserves. The United States accuses Maduro’s government of using oil revenues to finance drug trafficking and terrorism. As a result, the United States has imposed sanctions on oil exports and seized several tankers in recent months.

On the other hand, the Venezuelan government has accused the United States of carrying out this aggression to seize its oil resources. Since December 2025, the United States has been conducting a naval blockade and seizure operation on Venezuelan oil tankers.

Geopolitical impact

Venezuela has long maintained close alliances with Russia, China and Iran, the United States’ main rivals. The US administration believes that Maduro’s fall will help reduce Russian and Chinese influence in the region.

Allegations of human rights violations

The United States has imposed sanctions on the country, citing allegations of repression, arrests, and human rights violations against opposition leaders and officials under Maduro’s government.