[11]
”The White House asserts that it is defending the American people from the devastating consequences of the illegal importation of drugs by ‘narco-terrorists’ – consequen
CHATHAM HOUSE
THE US CAPTURE OF PRESIDENT NICOLAS MADURO 0-AND ATTACKS ON
VENEZUELA-HAVE NO JUSTIFICATION IN INTERNATIONAL LAW
PROFESSOR MARC WELLER
ZIE VOOR DE GEHELE TEKST, NOOT 8
”In November 2025, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado promised to open Venezuela’s oil and gas reserves during a business meeting in Miami attended by Trump, and the Trump administration engaged in secret talks with Maduro’s government about its oil reserves.[51] In December 2025, this escalated to include seizures of oil tankers carrying Venezuelan crude, with the Coast Guard’s Deployable Specialized Forces (DSF) conducting the tactical boardings in coordination with Department of Defense assets.[51][52][53] During this operation, Trump claimed that Venezuela’s oil reserves had been stolen from the United States.[54][55] These seizures formed part of the broader blockade preceding the January 2026 operation.[53][56]”
WIKIPEDIA
2026 UNITED STATES STRIKES IN VENEZUELA/UNITED STATES
MILITARY BUILDUP
ORIGINAL SOURCE
WIKIPEDIA
2026 UNITED STATES STRIKES IN VENEZUELA