Warships, fighter jets and the CIA - what is Trump's endgame in Venezuela?

October 23, 2025

The U.S. military has deployed its largest Caribbean force in decades, including warships, fighter jets, bombers, and drones near Venezuela. The operation has included bombing raids on vessels allegedly carrying narcotics, though critics question the evidence and legality of these strikes. While officially described as anti-drug trafficking efforts, experts believe this military buildup is actually aimed at intimidating Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and pressuring his inner circle to remove him from power.

Who is affected

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his inner circle
The Venezuelan military
Venezuelan civilians in the region of military operations
Crews of vessels targeted by U.S. strikes
Citizens of countries in the Caribbean region where U.S. forces are operating
Drug trafficking networks operating in the region
Regional governments that have condemned the U.S. strikes

What action is being taken

The U.S. military is maintaining a large deployment of warships, fighter jets, bombers, and drones in the Caribbean Sea
B-52 bombers are conducting "bomber attack demonstrations" off Venezuela's coast
The CIA has been authorized to carry out covert operations in Venezuela
U.S. forces are striking vessels they claim carry narcotics and "narco-terrorists"
The U.S. has increased its bounty for information leading to Maduro's arrest to $50 million
BBC Verify is monitoring publicly available tracking information of U.S. military assets in the region

Why it matters

The military buildup represents a significant escalation in U.S. efforts against the Maduro government, which it does not recognize as legitimate following contested elections. While officially framed as anti-drug trafficking operations, experts believe this is actually an attempt at regime change through intimidation rather than direct invasion. The operations raise legal questions about U.S. military actions in international waters and could potentially destabilize the region. Despite U.S. claims about drug trafficking, evidence suggests Venezuela is not a major drug production center, with most cocaine entering the U.S. coming from Colombia rather than Venezuela.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC