Why Does Trump Threaten Venezuelan Leader Maduro?

On December 10, the United States seized a Venezuelan oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea, claiming that it violated international sanctions. This action showed that the U.S. government is taking a tougher approach toward Venezuela. For several weeks, U.S. warships have been positioned around the country, and attacks on boats accused of carrying drugs have resulted in many deaths. President Donald Trump also doubled the reward for the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Nicolas Maduro has been the president of Venezuela since 2013 and is known as a political successor of former leader Hugo Chavez. During their years in power, Chavez and Maduro gained control over important state institutions such as parliament, the judiciary, and the electoral system. In the 2024 elections, opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez claimed victory, but Maduro was officially declared the winner. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado later received the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts toward a peaceful and democratic transition. The Trump administration blames Maduro for the large number of Venezuelans who migrated to the United States due to economic crisis and political pressure in their country. Trump also accused Maduro, without presenting evidence, of forcing prisoners to migrate to the U.S. In addition, the United States labeled some Venezuelan criminal groups as terrorist organizations. Maduro rejected these claims and argued that the U.S. is using the fight against drugs as an excuse to remove his government and gain access to Venezuela’s oil resources. The United States has deployed a large military force in the Caribbean, including warships and aircraft carriers. While Washington says this deployment aims to stop drug trafficking, experts point out that it is one of the largest military build-ups in the region in recent decades. Venezuela described the seizure of the oil tanker as an act of international piracy. Overall, tensions between the two countries continue to rise.

Source: BBC News Türkçe. Why does Trump threaten Venezuelan leader Maduro? Trump neden Venezuela lideri Maduro'yu tehdit ediyor? - BBC News Türkçe